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Advice to Daniel Viesnik

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Enquiry

From
Daniel Viesnik
Date advice given
22 November 2011
Enquiry type
Email

I must say that I find it entirely unsatisfactory that you are unable to inform individuals when the registration process opens, and that one is required to scan all the national and local papers on a daily basis (even if one does not live in the local area), or to wander up to the gates of the plant, or check your website on a daily basis in order to extract this elusive information. Anyone would think you wanted as few people as possible to register to make submissions.

Advice given

Thank you for your reply.

The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) aims to run an inclusive examination process and we would encourage anyone with an interest in a project to register as an interested party. This allows individuals or groups to participate fully in the examination process.

If an application is accepted for examination, under the Planning Act 2008 it is for the developer to decide when the period to register as an interested party starts and ends, but they must allow at least 28 days for people to make their relevant representations. We therefore cannot provide dates for the registration period in advance as this is not within our direct control.

As detailed in my previous email, the developer must publicise if the application has been accepted along with the period for registration. This information will also be available on the Hinkley Point C project page on the IPC?s website. As the window for making relevant representations runs for a minimum of 28 days, it would not be necessary to check the website on a daily basis.

Additionally, should the application be accepted for examination, the IPC will at this point establish a dedicated Twitter newsfeed for the project. This would inform you of all major application milestones, such as information regarding relevant representations, at the appropriate times.

Finally the IPC would arrange a number of events in the local community to inform people how to register as an interested party. These events will be publicised in the local press, through posters displayed locally and on our website.

I trust this response is helpful. If you have any further questions, our enquiries line is also available on 0303 444 5000.