Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The planning department is to levy a new fee.

Currently, Wiltshire Council provides pre-application advice for possible planning applications free-of-charge.

In an attempt to squeeze money from everyone this is set to change. Pre-application advice (even for listed buildings where the actual application has to be free-of-charge) will become a paid-for service.

Whilst I have never understood why huge developers should get pre-app advice and consultations free, it does seem somewhat mean-spirited to charge council tax payers. After all, part of the council tax pays the planning department salaries in the first place.

I presume the intention is to try and turn planning from a 'service' into a 'profit centre'.