Bolton Council runs the risk of being the "laughing stock of Europe" over its policy of charging the public at least £30 for photocopies of planning documents. And now the European Commission is to be asked to decide whether the Council is stifling freedom of information with its charging policy. Friends of the Earth campaigners are calling on the council to drop its charging - or risk being made a laughing stock.

As reported in the BEN last week, an outraged Green Party worker saw red when he was told there was a charge of £30 by the town hall planning department for copying a single A4-sheet from a planning document.

Bolton Council confirmed that was the standard charge - whether a planning document contained one or 20 sheets.

But it was stressed that members of the public had free access to study the documents on the town hall premises.

Extortionate

Now, professional ecological consultant Dave Bentley, of Radcliffe, is also angry after he was also being charged "an extortionate £30" at Bolton town hall.

He has already contacted his Euro-MP Gary Titley and the European Environmental Bureau in Brussels. Bureau officials say they are investigating the charge being made by Bolton town hall.

Access to Information expert Mary Taylor, from London-based Friends of the Earth, says she will report Bolton to the European Commission. She said: "Members of the public should be able to get copies of files. To pay £30 for a piece of photocopying is not reasonable.

"It will deter people who should be able to take part in decision-making on council matters.

"Such high prices mean Bolton Council is doing its citizens a disservice."

She said FoE planned to report the council to the European Commission.

Mr Bentley, who has been involved in many environmental campaigns, said: "I believe Bolton is acting illegally. This charge is not reasonable as stated in the Access to Information Act.

"I suggest Bolton place a photocopying machine in their planning reception and charge 5p a copy - then everyone will be happy."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.