We have no idea what to make of the strategic planning system that exists today. In fact, it is an exaggeration to say that we have a strategic planning system at all. We appear to be prone to all sorts of "left field" planning proposals.

The South East plan process led to many speculative bids from developers who put a circle around a piece of land and, at most, produced a glossy brochure in support.

Having gone through that, we now have the Government's eco town proposals which have produced yet more highly speculative and massively significant proposals that are coming in almost under the radar.

The greatest shock is that, in a couple of weeks' time, the Government could be deciding that some of these proposals have merit.

As we report this week, there are two proposals for eco towns in Oxfordshire. One at Shipton quarry has been widely trailed over a number of years and does have a measure of support in the county, including from some Greens.

The second has almost sneaked up on us and includes proposals for a vast tract of land around Weston-on-the-Green.

The Government is expected to shortlist 18 sites for eco-towns. The law of averages suggests there is a good chance one of these two sites in Oxfordshire could make the shortlist - even though they were not included in the recommendations of the inspectors into the South East plan.

The questions for us are: do we take these eco-town bids seriously? and if we do, are we already too late to do anything about them?

The Government pledged some time ago to simplify the planning system in order to deliver developments much quicker. In trying to do that, it is in grave danger of disenfranchising those most affected.