LOCAL authorities will retain their interested party status under changes to the Island's planning system.

 
The clarification follows claims made to Ramsey Town Commissioners in response to proposed amendments to the Town & Country Planning (Development Procedure) Order.

David Quirk MHK, political member for the Department of Infrastructure, said: "The Department of Infrastructure welcomes the constructive feedback from Ramsey Town Commissioners on the proposed amendments to the Town & Country Planning (Development Procedure) (Amendment) Order 2011.

"However there appears to have been some misunderstanding about interested party status for local authorities and I would like to set the record straight.

"I can confirm that the department is not and never has proposed to remove the automatic provision of interested party status for local authorities.

 
"In future local authorities will retain their right of appeal as interested parties even if they have not responded on a planning application."