Getting Involved in Planning: Perceptions of the Wider Public

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GETTING INVOLVED IN PLANNING Perceptions of the Wider Public

APPENDIX VI - INTERVIEW GUIDES

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR PLANNERS

Preamble: explain aims of research and that it is expected this interview will provide an understanding of the chosen case studies and information on specific themes that the Scottish Executive is interested in.

Questions

1. Could you describe the experience you have in encouraging public involvement in the planning process over and above your statutory requirements? (Refer to the specific case study)

2. How did you go about getting people involved?

Prompt ->

Was it difficult?

  • Were people generally aware of the planning process and rights?
  • If they weren't, did you try to increase their awareness? If so, how?
  • Did you find there were cultural factors that affected public involvement in planning?
  • Did you use any other institutions as access points for the involved? If so, which? How successful was this?

3. What level of involvement were you aiming to achieve? (Give options)

  • Why?
  • Was it achieved?
  • Do you think the adequate level of public involvement depends on the issue or process?

4. Did the experience encounter any barriers in involving the public?

  • What kind of barrier?
  • Was action taken to reduce these barriers?
  • Does this reflect your experience of barriers in other cases of public involvement?
  • Did you find specific barriers related to the "traditionally uninvolved", e.g. ethnic minorities?

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR INVOLVED

Preamble: explain aims of research and that it is expected this interview will provide an understanding of public involvement in the chosen case study local authority areas and information on specific themes that the Scottish Executive is interested in.
Confidentiality.
Consent for taping if appropriate.

Questions

1. Could you describe your involvement in planning issues?

2. How have you been involved?

Prompt ->

  • Why did you become involved?
  • Did you become involved through an institution or organisation, or was it through your own initiative?
  • Did you find it easy to become involved? (external factors / personal factors)
  • Were you aware beforehand of the planning process? (DP, DC, etc.)
  • Were you aware beforehand of your rights?
  • Did anyone explain to you: · what your role in the process was · how your views would fit into the system · how you would get feedback?
  • Did the experience change your knowledge/awareness of the planning process and rights? If so, how - through training, information being made available, etc?
  • Do you know people who had the opportunity to become involved but didn't? If so, why do you think they did not get involved?

3. If interviewee has not referred to certain initiatives in the case study area, then ask: Were you involved in the XXX initiative? (use prompts from question 2 above)

4. Were you satisfied with your level of involvement?

  • Was there enough opportunity to get involved? Was access to the process satisfactory? Why?
  • Did you feel adequately prepared to take part? Why?
  • Were you satisfied with how involved you were in the process? Why?
  • Were you satisfied with the information you got on the outcome? (feedback, time-scale)
  • Do you think your involvement made a difference?
  • From your own experience would you get involved again? Why?
  • Is there anything that would have made your experience better?
  • What would you advise someone who thinking about getting involved in planning issues?

5. What stops people (the public) from getting involved in planning issues?

  • Have you encountered or become aware of any barriers in your experience? (prompts: opportunities, skills, helpfulness of planners, presentation of information)
  • Do you know whether any action has been taken to reduce these barriers?

6.What ideas have you got on ways to improve public involvement in planning?

INTERVIEW GUIDE FOR UNINVOLVED

Preamble: explain aims of research and that it is expected this interview will provide an understanding of the perception of the planning system by those who do not get involved, and of the reasons why they don't get involved.

Questions

1. Are you aware of the XXX initiative? (If not aware, briefly explain chosen case study to interviewee)

2. If you were aware of the XXX initiative, why did you not become involved? (Briefly explain the results of the case study experience to interviewee)

3. Knowing what happened, if you had been aware of the XXX initiative, would you have taken part?

  • Prompt ->
  • What would you say might prevent you from taking part?
  • What would encourage you to take part?

4. Are you aware of the planning process and the rights that you have? (Refer to the displays)

  • Are you aware of the opportunities for involvement? (Prompt with specific mechanisms: public meetings, plans on deposit, possibility of writing objections, etc)
  • Have you ever used any of these?
  • Why?

5. Do you think people ought to be aware of the planning process and of their rights in it?

  • How would you make them aware?

Page updated: Thursday, April 06, 2006