Public comments removed from council planning site
Google Street ViewPublic comments on a council's planning website will no longer be available to view in a bid to "protect personal information", the authority has confirmed.
The policy change means residents' opinions on a range of things such as loft conversions or large housing developments can no longer be read on Wakefield Council's planning portal.
A spokesperson said the council had a duty to protect residents' personal information to comply with data protection regulations, adding that the decision would be reviewed after six months.
Joe Jenkinson, Wakefield Council's service director for planning, transportation and strategic highways, said comments would still be made available "on request".
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, other local authorities across the country, including neighbouring Leeds City Council, had also removed public representations from view in recent years, citing similar reasons for doing so.
'Redact comments'
Mr Jenkinson explained: "We have removed comments from the planning portal to protect people's personal information.
"We regularly have personal data and information shared as part of these comments and we have a duty to protect their information under General Data Protection Regulation rules.
"Like many other local authorities, the comments will still be made available on request."
The move would allow time to "appropriately redact comments to protect personal information before being shared", Mr Jenkinson said.
All comments received would "still be taken into account through the usual planning process", he added.
When councillors in Leeds discussed the issue two years ago after a similar decision, those in charge said the move had been forced by staff shortages in the planning department and due to the time it took to moderate abusive and libellous remarks.
But critics said Leeds City Council's decision undermined openness and trust in the planning process.
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