RAIL bosses have annoyed city council planners to such a degree they are spitting feathers.

The problem centres on Network Rail's plans to extend the rail line between Glasgow and Edinburgh to allow for longer trains.

The move is widely welcomed by anyone who has been forced to scrabble for a seat on trains between Scotland's two largest cities.

City councillors are also happy the transport body is spending tens of millions millions in a bid to make sure people who can afford a ticket can spend the journey sitting down instead of standing in the corridor.

But they are anything but happy that Network Rail has decided they should have no say in how the new frontage of Queen Street should look.

Every individual and virtually every organisation wanting to carry out building work has to submit a planning application and await the green light before work can begin.

Major schemes can involve months of discussions as planners and developers thrash out the details to ensure the development is of the highest possible quality.

But Network Rail is one of a handful of bodies which does not have to consult council planners and there lies the problem.

Our elected representatives are acutely conscious the new entrance to the station will become a major feature for anyone crossing George Square.

And they are desperate to ensure the new frontage is as good as it possible can be.

However, they are not being allowed an input and instead it will be up to Scottish Ministers to rubber stamp the plan.

That has angered senior councillors Jonathan Findlay and Liz Cameron who believe democratically elected councillors should not be excluded from the planning process in favour of Holyrood mandarins.

Members of the planning committee agreed unanimously and Scottish Ministers are to be asked to attempt to persuade Network Rail to lodge a planning application for the frontage.

I would suggest you don't hold your breath.

Planning issues in other areas were also in the headlines last week.

The £400million extension to Buchanan Galleries received detailed approval meaning the steps at the Royal Concert Hall will be flattened - much to the annoyance of thousands of city residents who regard them as a spot to eat their lunch on sunny days.

And a London based developer announced it has just lodged plans for a £110m development on the Merchant City site previously owned by Selfridges.