NS to meet minister over threat to press ads

Regional newspapers face a new blow with the possible loss of statutory ads from local authorities giving details of planning notices.

Now the Newspaper Society is to meet Housing Minister John Healey to discuss planning notices and local authority publications as a consultation on publicising planning applications draws to a close.
In the summer, the NS wrote to Minister for Local Government Rosie Winterton to highlight concerns about council publications which compete with local media for readers and advertising revenue.
The letter also opposed proposals to remove the requirement for statutory notices to be published in local newspapers which the NS will also raise with Healey.
The Communities and Local Government Department’s consultation on whether changes should be made to planning legislation relating to publicising planning applications flags up NS opposition to ending compulsory newspaper publication of planning notices.

It invites responses from local newspaper companies and will close on 23 October. A formal response will go in from the NS and we will be briefing members on individual responses shortly. NS letter to Rosie Winterton
Publicity for planning applications: Consultation