A proposal to sell a former municipal tip in Sandown could net the Isle of Wight Council £250,000.
The policy, finance and resources committee will tonight (Thursday) consider the proposed sale of a site next to East Yar Road to Southern Water, as part of controversial plans for a Water Recycling Project.
Councillors are due to decide whether to recommend the disposal to full council on a conditional basis – subject to the private utility company getting the necessary consents for its scheme.
One of the opponents of Southern Water’s bid, Sandown Town Council, last week heard from Cllr Debbie Andre that she felt project managers from the corporation were “intransigent” and had “made up their mind” already over the plans.
She told the local authority she was yet to be convinced the proposals were the best option for the town.
A committee report says:
“To provide resilience to the drinking water supply on the Isle of Wight, Southern Water is proposing to undertake its Wight Water Recycling Project, a strategic development that is designed to increase the availability of drinking water on the Island by 8.5 million litres a day.
“To facilitate the delivery of this project Southern Water require the acquisition of the Isle of Wight Council’s (predominantly unused) former municipal tip at East Yar Road, Sandown.
Article continues below this advertisement “The council could decide not to treat (negotiate) with Southern Water and to refuse to dispose of the former tip at East Yar Road.
“While this is a potential option for the council it does nothing to support the delivery of a more resilient supply of drinking water to the Island and would likely damage the council’s reputation.”
The committee will meet at County Hall at 17:00.
They could spend a load of money to buy and develop this site to give us more drinking water… Or they could invest the money in fixing the thousands of leaks first and see if this is actually a worthwhile investment after?
No, they’ll do whichever option gets more money into the councils back pockets.
2nd your statement. plus who on the island is struggling to obtain drinking water. sounds like a third world project,
What else is the land useful for? With it’s proximity to Morton Common it must have the risk of flooding, so it is not sensible to build either housing or commercial property on it.