BUILD A BETTER BEMBRIDGE CAMPAIGNER WELCOME COUNCILLOR’S PAUSE ON DRAFT PLANNING STRATEGY

Campaigners from ‘Build a Better Bembridge’ say they are pleased that Isle of Wight Councillors paused the progression of the current draft Island Planning Strategy last week.

As previously reported by Island Echo, no decision has been made on the Island Planning Strategy, despite a 3-hour meeting at County Hall to discuss the matter last night (Wednesday).

In a statement, campaigners have said:

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“We are grateful to those Councillors that stood up for their communities, including our Bembridge Councillor Joe Robertson, amid growing pressure to approve this draft Plan.

“A bad Plan is worse than no Plan. As the draft currently stands there is too much greenfield building allocated and not enough consideration given to genuinely affordable housing for Islanders including affordable rental accommodation.

“We remain concerned about the overall housing numbers across the Island and the use of outdated population and household data. We continue to push for the Cabinet to adopt Amendment 2b drafted by the Council’s planning officers and presented to Corporate Scrutiny Committee on 6th September. It would remove allocations for over 300 extra homes in fields on the edge of Bembridge and Freshwater which have been included against the majority wishes and feelings of both communities, their parish councils and their neighbourhood plans adopted by local referendum.

“We expect the Plan to come back to a Full Council Meeting with some amendments no earlier than 16th November and probably later.

“We continue to work with communities and Councillors across the Island who share our aim of making the Plan greener and more affordable”.

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