The government will present its Planning and Infrastructure bill to Parliament today which aims to streamline the planning process, removing local councils from all but the biggest projects. Chloe Turner, Green councillor in Stroud, told Radio 4’s Today programme (just before 7am): “We absolutely welcome development, in particular the transition to clean energy, but we know that this has to be delivered by engaging communities, not just removing them from the process... Stripping out that local democratic input could come at a really a big cost for our communities... We have to operate in a way that is accountable and transparent... government can't just wish this away so that they can build whatever they want, whenever they want.”