A RESIDENTS' group is on collision course with business leaders over changes to planning rules they claim could deprive thousands of people of their say in future developments.

The clash revolves around "Localism" laws designed to siphon certain planning powers away from councils and into the hands of residents.

Birkenhead & Tranmere Neighbourhood Planning Forum was launched earlier this year to gather the views of local people and devise the area’s first neighbourhood plan - a necessary procedure for devolving powers.

But now a proposal is to come before council cabinet which limits the forum's scope only to Tranmere.

It indicates that Birkenhead planning decision-making could at a future date be given to another group led by members of the town's Business Improvement District (BID), which comes under the umbrella of Wirral Chamber of Commerce.

The forum says this new restriction to its area of influence would potentially allow BID members to be responsible for decision-making in the town – with no need to canvas views of 2,000 people living in Tranmere.

The report says "It would appear sponsors of the BID... may wish to reserve the right to apply for neighbourhood planning powers, were those powers to become available in future."

It recommends a combined Birkenhead and Tranmere neighbourhood area is refused and a reduced district is designated to the south and east of Borough Road "to better reflect the delineation of local communities and the character of the area."

Greg Vogiatzis, the forum's secretary, said: “If the cabinet accepts this recommendation, the council will be denying residents and smaller business-owners in Birkenhead a voice in determining the future of their neighbourhood.

“It appears the council prefers to hand powers exclusively to business rather than all members of the community.

“Since forming earlier this year, we have made real progress towards providing the public a real voice in the creation of a vision for the entire Birkenhead and Tranmere neighbourhood.

“We feel the only motive for reducing the proposed area to Tranmere is to pave the way for the BID to be given control of neighbourhood planning in Birkenhead at some point in the future.”

He added only larger businesses qualify for BID voting privileges, meaning the majority of businesses and residents would be excluded from decision-making.

Forum chairman Philip Barton said: “Our neighbourhood plan will be an important and influential policy document which will tackle serious issues that affect everyone who lives or works in the area.

“Our aim is to produce a policy framework for Birkenhead and Tranmere within which families, community groups and businesses can invest with confidence and, together, create a viable and sustainable future for everyone.”

Paula Basnett, Wirral Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said: "The Birkenhead BID is about businesses deciding and having an opinion within the BID area in which the are located.

"There will be a very small percentage of residential units within this area but the emphasis for the initiative will be about improvements to the business and commercial areas of Birkenhead within the BID boundary."

A consultation about allowing BIDs to take on neighbourhood planning powers closed last month.

The Government is now in the process of  deciding whether the proposal should become law.

The cabinet will meet next Monday at Wallasey Town Hall.