Planning Appeals Board defends independence

The chairman of the Planning Appeals Board, John O' Connor, is defending its independence.

The latest report from the board, covering 2003, shows that in a total of over 4,000 cases, one in every 14 planning decisions are appealed.

Three in ten of the appeals to the board are successful.

In some instances the board has ignored the advice of its own inspectors in reaching those decisions.

However, John O' Connor today maintained that it is fully entitled to do so.

“While the board has to have regard to a whole number of factors, including the report of the inspector, it is not bound by the inspector or the report of the inspector," he said.

“It has in law complete freedom to exercise its own discretion and make whatever decision it sees fit having regard to all the factors, and weighing up all the issues that are brought to bear on a particular case."