Planning advice

Sympathetic planning experts who may be able to advise your campaign:

Campaign for Planning Sanity.
Contact: Chris Maile Tel: 0161 959 0999. www.onlincam.freeserve.co.uk
Local community support for adverse planning and development

Planning Aid
c/o Royal Town Planning Institute, 41 Botolph Lane, London, EC3R 8DL. Tel: 0207 636 9107.
Network of experienced planners and others such as architects and legal experts who provide advice to individuals and groups on planning related matters. Advice is given to those who cannot afford to pay consultants fees. They have regional offices across Britain.

Michael Parks
315 Trinity Road, Wandsworth, London SW18 3SL.Tel: 0208 874 3342.
Self-employed urban planner, involved in the planning for real exercise with Gargoyle Wharf Community Action Group who fought against a supermarket in Wandsworth, London. Experience with regeneration proposals, fighting roads etc.

James Shorten
Faculty of the Built Environment, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY. Tel: 0117 965 6261 x3224. Email j.shorten@uwe.ac.uk
General advice on planning and development issues.

Paul Disney:
Lower Heltor Farm, Bridford, Devon, EX6 7EH. Tel: 01647 440138. Fax: 01647 440047
Transport impact assessment, especially PPG6, PPG13 and by-pass traffic.

Legal advice

Earthrights Solicitors
Contact: John Dunkley, Little Orchard, School Lane, Molehill Green, Takeley, Essex. CM22 6JP. E-mail: earthrights@gn.apc.org Tel: 07071 225011
Can give advice on environmental law, landrights, rights of way, squatters' rights defending possession proceedings and planning law.

Environmental Law Foundation (ELF)
Contact: Glyn Turner, Administrator, Kings College London, Atkins Buildings South (128), Campden Hill Road, London W8 7AH Tel/Fax 020 7 333 4100.
The Environmental Law Foundation (ELF) is a non-profit company with a network of advisers with legal, academic and environmental expertise, who can represent community groups involved in environmental disputes. Financial support for legal advice is not yet available although planned for the future. Meanwhile certain preliminary work can be undertaken free of charge.

Environmental Legal and Mediation Service (ELMS)
Contacts: Harjinder Bahra, & Sarah Dobbyn, Temple Chambers, 3-7 Temple Avenue, London, EC4Y 0DB. Tel: 0171 583 8008. Fax: 0171 583 8007. Email: hsbahra@dircon.co.uk
A network of lawyers who offer help on a pro-bono basis (free) for groups without legal aid. Will represent groups at public inquiries and mediate between developers and groups. Can also help with finding a solicitor. Community groups should be willing to help with photocopying costs, etc.