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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Dear all,<u></u><u></u></span></div>

<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>

<div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Please see below a press release from Civic Voice
regarding the </span><span lang="EN-US">All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies next
week.  </span></div><div style="font-family:verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div><div><table style="width:100%">

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<td><img style="margin-top:30px" alt="Civic Voice - talking civic sense"></td>
<td><h1 style="text-align:left;font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,Verdana">PRESS RELEASE</h1></td>
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<td><div><b>Immediate release</b></div></td>
<td><div style="margin-right:0px"><b>May 8<span>th</span> 2013</b></div></td>
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<h2 style="text-align:center;margin-bottom:0px">Griff Rhys Jones to address <span>MPs</span> on the importance of the community voice in the planning system</h2>
<h3 style="text-align:center;margin-top:0px">Griff Rhys Jones and the Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP to attend meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies</h3>

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        The importance of community involvement in the planning system will be put under the spotlight when <span>MPs</span> and Peers gather at Portcullis House on May 13<span>th</span> for a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies to hear Griff Rhys Jones and Nick Boles MP.</div>
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        Laura <span>Sandys</span> MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies said “<i>There are around 50 MP’s and Peers who are members of the <span>APPG</span>. This demonstrates the strength of support the civic movement has in the Houses of Parliament. I am grateful that the Planning Minister and Griff Rhys Jones are able to attend this meeting and I look forward to chairing what should be an interesting discussion</i>”.</div>
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        Topics to be discussed at the meeting include:</div>
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                The challenges to encouraging widespread involvement in neighbourhood planning</li>
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                A review of the Government’s recent changes to permitted development rights</li>
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                Timescales local authorities have to implement their local plans</li>
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        Paula <span>Ridley</span> <span>CBE</span>, Chair of Civic Voice finished by saying “<i>Civic groups play a vital role in the democratic process which was recently demonstrated when nearly 400 <span>MPs</span> were contacted by civic societies over the Government's proposed permitted development changes. This resulted in the Government making some significant amendments on this key planning policy. We look forward to putting our members’ queries on the role of communities in the planning system to the Minister</i>”. </div>
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        Anyone who would like to contribute a question to the debate should email <a rel="nofollow" href="mailto:info@civicvoice.org.uk" target="_blank">info@civicvoice.org.uk</a>  


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        A list of <span>MPs</span> and Peers supporting the group can be accessed at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001z5eHSeBBSSdhzKNAExMG4mde-XvADsk-Le0rsdbMucWdg7YrkuwALqOd3Hi72Xc9GYKLDR-4zJTFl8rK40SNuPAI6pyg2DH_kruV_Ga_zkGIxTMxpKitJ6Mk1ULFen-YxHkLt4h00Fg6NmoNPs3NjpyAFga1KthDBy6cLWbPpdsrJ39tgdbkmqUepT6Y5dHfmv9S_1L2z-av8nmT-mX8tYSG8q76n3SD" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/civil-society-and-volunteering.htm</a>.</div>






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