The Public

Abstract

The public interact with the planning system in a number of ways: as a ‘client’ through applying for permission or authorisation or making representations on planning policy and decisions; through the party political system; by campaigning and through the lobbying tactics of pressure groups; and through creating a climate of public opinion. This chapter covers the last three forms of public pressure. The first form, the client relationship, is implicit in much of the preceding discussion of planners as professionals and the nature of organisations such as quangos.