Young POS North West - July 2026

11.00-12.00

Via MS Teams

Planning on the Frontline: navigating abuse, misinformation and public pressure

REGISTER HERE

Our speakers for this panel will be:

• Catriona Riddell, Director Catriona Riddell & Associates
• Carolyn Williams, Planning Policy Manager, Preston City Council

Planning officers are increasingly expected to deal with abuse and harassment from both members of the public and elected members while carrying out their decision-making and plan-making responsibilities.  In addition, planners are facing growing challenges in addressing misinformation spread through social media and commentary from media personalities, all while balancing calls for transparency and encouraging participation in the planning system.

Early career planners entering local planning authorities are particularly exposed to these challenges, often joining the profession with limited or no prior training or experience in conflict resolution.  As a result, there is frequently insufficient preparation for managing conflict, criticism, misinformation and, at times, personal attacks, which are becoming an increasingly regular part of day-to-day practice.

This session will see Catriona and Carolyn share their experiences of dealing with misinformation, abuse and public pressure across their careers, along with reflections on how early career planners can build confidence and resilience in challenging situations.

This will be followed by an open discussion with attendees to share experiences, raise concerns, and learn from fellow early career LPA colleagues.  If you would like to submit a question anonymously for the Q&A please email Shaun Knights directly.

* due to the nature of the discussion, this event is open to local authority planners only and will not be recorded.  Please register using your work email and the MS Teams link will be sent out in advance of the event.