‘Unique’ tourism accommodation is planned for the edge of Newport, but once again Island Roads are opposing the planning application because it would encourage private car use.
Four Lakes Country Park on Staplers Road wants to become a highly sought-after destination site for holidaymakers, according to plans submitted to the Isle of Wight Council.
The site, near the former Isle of Wight Lavender Farm and round the corner from the Monkey Haven, will be based around the 4 recreational fishing lakes.
Owner Andrew Newman, of Wight Developments Ltd, is proposing 6 lakeside and fishing lodges of various sizes and capacities, with 2 further safari tents and a tea room.
5 of the lodges would be placed on a levelled shelf midway between the surface of the lake and the higher surrounding countryside.
The tearoom would be open to the wider public and, in planning documents, is said to be important in helping the business work all year round.
In a ‘sensitive regeneration of the site’, planning agent Andrew White, says, the holiday units would be marketed on the basis of complete escapism, tranquillity and integration with the natural environment. According to Mr White, Mr Newman is passionate about providing a quality establishment, capitalising on the setting of the site and panoramic views towards the surrounding countryside.
Island Roads has assessed the application and recommends its refusal due to inadequate access visibility, an inadequate turning area, insufficient parking provision and pedestrian connectivity. The highways authority argues the development is likely to encourage private car use and deter sustainable transport. They recently opposed another application for the same reason, as reported by Island Echo.
It said it would increase the potential for conflict between pedestrians and motorists along Staplers Road due to the lack of separate pedestrian links.
To view the plans, 22/00209/FUL, you can visit the council’s planning register. Comments will be accepted until 1st April.
Seems odd – Island Roads, roads are their business and yet they want to discourage road use – is that because they know the roads are substandard and worried they will wear out to quick needing repairs at their cost ?.
Are Island Roads justified in making an objection here? Surely, any new, modern holiday development potential is good for the island, just as long as it doesn’t have an effect on the environment and the landscape and not cause traffic jams with visitor numbers!
and public transport users can travel on the number 9 bus.
It is about time Island roads were brought down to size. they are not here to prevent good ideas for use of land. If they have constructive advice that is acceptable, but not downright recommendation for rejection.
“It said it would increase the potential for conflict between pedestrians and motorists along Staplers Road due to the lack of separate pedestrian links.”
Weird. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a pedestrian in that area.
Island Roads have a problem with private car use but didn’t turn down massive housing estates in Ryde on that basis, where we are talking 1000s more cars. Massive inconsistency.
I am pretty sure that island roads and president Putin are in some way linked.
Public enquiry please, and suspend/freeze all of island roads assets, including the cones.
If Island roads object to this application, perhaps they’ll object to their own application to extract gravel at Palmers farm. The one that’s close to a SSSI.The one that will send 50 trucks a day down narrow country lanes, for 10 years, which pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders regularly use. This organisation’s arrogance is astonishing. They should remember, they’re our servants not our masters.
So will Island Roads be objecting to Palmers Farm Quarry application as 40 lorry movements a day down a single track road is more of a conflict with pedestrians than a few holiday Chalets?
What? Tourists on the Isle of Wight, that will be a shock for the Nimbys
If that is the same Andrew White I was at school with then goodbye former fields and farm and hello holiday units, tea shop, stores, offices, car park, subsidised housing units to fill government quotas and receive tax breaks, but only holiday people will rent them… Etc, etc. His word secures his bonds.