Weekly planning roundups across the West contrast with Worcestershire's AI-driven bus pass processing

Local news outlets published weekly planning application roundups for three councils in the same week that a council in Worcestershire said it was using AI for a different type of application. The Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard published a roundup of applications submitted to Wiltshire Council, with its list including a farm shop, café and new homes [1]. The Weston Mercury listed applications made to North Somerset Council around Weston-super-Mare for 6–12 September [2], and the Bridgwater Mercury listed applications submitted to Somerset Council [4]. The Cotswold Journal, meanwhile, reported that a council in Worcestershire is using artificial intelligence to speed up bus pass applications and improve efficiency [3].