A coalition of environmental and social organisations, supported by over 2.3 million people, has come together to fight Government proposals to reform the planning system, which aim to speed up the planning process for projects like airports.

According to Planning Disaster the changes are a result of the Treasury seemingly being determined to rebalance the planning system in favour of business and away from environmental and social concerns. At a time when action on climate change and environmental protection is needed more than ever this rebalancing is a step in the wrong direction.

They say the Government would be able to give the green light to big developments, while local communities who will be most affected will have little say in the proposals. This would lead to unsustainable developments like airport expansion or motorways being pushed through more quickly.

The coalition, which includes AirportWatch, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Civic Trust, Council for National Parks, enoughsenough.org, Friends of the Earth, The Grasslands Trust, the New Economics Foundation, the Ramblers' Association, RSPB, Transport 2000, UKRIGS, The Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust, intends to fight and defeat these proposals over the coming months.

You can object to all of this by following the relevant links on their website, or by going straight to this link.