COMMENTING on planning applications in Torridge will now be easier after Torridge District Council announced improvements to the public access on its planning system.

The Public Access for Planning system was launched in 2008.

After extensive consultation by their supplier and input from the development input groups from 25 other local authorities, the council will launch a new version of the planning access system today (Thursday).

The improvements will include mew mapping functions, smartphone access, better ways of finding information, improvements to making and viewing comments, easier registration when submitting a comment on a planning application with less intervention and better support for more web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Internet Explorer 9 and 10.

Lead member for planning and development Cllr Peter Watson said: ‘More and more people are looking to access our services on-line and any improvements we can make to further enable this are to be welcomed.

‘We aim to have an open and transparent planning process at Torridge and it is important that the public have access, 24/7, to the relevant information on planning applications which may impact on themselves and their local communities.’