Member

I want to be clear: we are not seeking through these amendments to reintroduce the automatic right to public inquiry that the Bill removes. We recognise that such a move would be seen as an attempt to block or delay projects. However, we do say this: Scottish communities must not be shut out of decisions that shape their local environments. It is important to emphasise that through these amendments we support infrastructure; we also support transparency and local voices. These proposals strike a sensible balance between delivering national priorities and respecting local identities; the amendments are modest, constructive and rooted in principle and seek not to disrupt or delay the Bill but to improve it. In doing so, they ensure that Scotland’s unique planning context is respected and its communities are properly heard.