A FAIR proportion of my time in Westminster is spent fulfilling my duties as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the communities and local government department – even more so this week, as it was our turn to field departmental questions on Monday.

Some colleagues have been seeking out ministers because they are troubled by large-scale planning applications in their constituencies – in particular ones for solar PV and wind farms. Of course, it is natural and reasonable for communities who wish to object to such applications to go to their MPs.

Many people feel the proliferation of applications to generate renewable energy is a growing problem over which their representatives should be seen to exert influence.

I know from experience how easy it is to sympathise with planning concerns. But it would not be fair for any MP to suggest to constituents that their sympathy alone can change the outcome of an application.

Planning is guided by national legislation and local authorities’ own responsibility for interpreting and enforcing those laws. However strongly we feel, MPs are neither consulted nor decision-makers on planning matters.

I have absolutely no desire to see the countryside carpeted with solar panels. However, my opinion is just that – an opinion – and the same is true of all MPs. Recognising the confusion that has arisen around the relative importance that should be given to protecting views and rurality as against meeting proven energy needs, the Department of Energy and Climate Change recently issued new guidance.

Helpfully, it states that: “Support for solar PV should ensure proposals are appropriately sited, give proper weight to environmental considerations such as landscape and visual impact, heritage and local amenity and provide opportunities for local communities to influence decisions that affect them.”

The actions I can – and frequently do – take to reassure constituents are often limited to questioning decision-makers and making sure constituents’ views have been heard.

In this area, I am confident the minister’s guidance will be interpreted sensitively in the light of the beauty of significant swathes of our countryside.

Meanwhile the A303 remains an urgent concern and Friday will see a meeting in Somerset to discuss a feasibility study.

I find the notion that yet more meetings are necessary somewhat difficult to swallow. I will continue to press for a debate to put the argument that enough studies have been done already – what is needed are decisions leading to action.

On Friday, I shall be busy catching up with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the leaders of the new Salisbury Sixth Form and meeting with a number of individual constituents.