Leeds City Council has stopped publishing public comments on planning applications due to the amount of ‘vociferous comments’ they receive and GDPR concerns.
The council started a six-month trial last week to assess how ceasing the publication of comments will affect services.
A council spokesperson said planning applications had become a platform for ‘antagonistic correspondence between applicants and objectors’.
The spokesperson said residents had contacted the local authority saying that they were reluctant to comment on applications ‘for fear of repercussions’.
GDPR issues have also increased the staff resource needed to delete comments.
The spokesperson added: ‘Some councils have never published comments and an increasing number are ceasing to do so. As ever, comments based on material planning matters are invited, and will continue to be summarised in the officer's report and taken into account in the decision-making process.’
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