Plans for another major development in Gunville have been deferred following concerns over pedestrian safety and highway improvements.
The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee has paused the decision on outline plans for more than 100 homes on Gunville Road near to the former Friends of the Animals Charity Shop.
All other details of the scheme, including layout, scale and appearance, would be determined at a later date.
The plans were recommended for conditional approval by planning officers but with insufficient information to advise councillors, officers suggested the application be deferred so they could find the answers.
One of the committee’s issues was with highway improvements and members wondered whether it would be reasonable to secure financial contributions from every developer that puts an application forward in Gunville to address the traffic issues.
Part of the reason 2 other developments for housing in the area were recently rejected was date showing the mini-roundabout at the top of Carisbrooke High Street, will exceed capacity by 2025, even without new housing built.
Councillors suggested opening Taylor Road, connecting Gunville to Carisbrooke and Newport via Wellington Road, cutting out the roundabout.
A ‘sustainable transport contribution’ of £45,000 would be provided if the application is approved, to offset any negative traffic impacts. This was earmarked to go towards the Gunville to West Wight cycle track and either the installation of a multi-use pathway or surfacing the existing public right of way.
Officers said this would help people use alternative means of transport but councillors asked if that money could be used in other ways.
There were proposed changes to the layout of Gunville Road, where, if the scheme was approved, the priority flow system would be removed and replaced by a zebra crossing.
Councillor Matt Price asked if a controlled pedestrian crossing with a raised bump could be looked at as it would be a significant safety improvement and slow down traffic.
Members asked whether safe cycling provision along Gunville Road could be examined.
Isle of Wight Council strategic manager for planning, Ollie Boulter, said they were issues the officers had not been able to answer that would have helped councillors in their decision.
So if roundabout is going to exceed its capacity even without new houses being built, and pedestrian safety is (rightly so) paramount to council’s decision, what they intend to change in existing residential streets to limit number of vehicles and make it a better place for pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users?
Where are all the families currently living who need all these new homes? Over 100 houses on this estate in Gunville and even bigger estates of new houses planned around Ryde etc. I honestly don’t believe there are that many families living on the Island who can’t find a house to buy or rent that we need all these new estates building. Where are they all at the moment?
Developers are greedy and will charge £300,000+ for these houses, not for islanders but for mainland people who would like to live here at the expense of those already living here.
It is AMAZING that all these thousands of homes are so needed for Islanders. Perhaps someones view of an Islander is what magically happens as soon as you apply via your mainland council to reside here.
That or the breeding rate of the Island must have surpassed that of rabbits.
Time will give councilors a period in which to count the thank you cards from developers before deciding to make it ‘look’ like they really do ‘care’.
A given.
Why worry about traffic, it hardly moves now.
And… what about the HEALTH and WELFARE of the people coming here to live.
Please advertise along with ALL THESE NEW HOUSES THAT there are no Doctors, No Dentists, Overwhelmed Elderly and Social care.
The Schools are SUBSTANDARD compared to the mainland. Police at full stretch.
and no beds at the Hospital.
Well done the bright sparks who think this can go on and on building more rabbit hutches.
Those ‘bright sparks’ will NOT be living anywhere near the areas they ruin.
Their health care will be private, so won’t bother them.
As will be their familes dentists, as will be their childrens education.
They will be well able to afford to pay for ‘Mummy’ to go into a luxury private care home on the cash they make by ruining our lives.
So they are ‘bright sparks’ living in leafy lanes, away from the misery and ruination of all of our lives, and they could not care less.
It’s ok changing the traffic control systems in the middle of Gunville Road ,what about the end that joins priory road ? The speed of traffic through there is frightening and crossing the road at times scary.I don’t understand how a transport contribution changes the amount of vehicles using the road ? If anyone thinks that a cycle lane is going to make any difference is living in cloud Cuckoo land !
If there are questions that the planning officer cant not answer than it should be refused not one more green field site on he iow should be built on large or small
It would be interesting to see a comprehensive list of all the current proposed developments, Showing quantities and bedroom size, and expected selling price, alongside a list showing numbers of Islanders, ( those currently living here), that require a property to buy or rent.
And a measly 45k towards an updated cycle path !!, Do they seriously think they can build houses miles away from necessary facilities and everyone is going to cycle to work, school, shops or doctors – blimey, can’t get started on that one !!
Not enough £££s in the brown envelopes? That’ll be put right soon enough, and there you have it folks, your domain sold out from under you by the fat paycheck councillors who will up and leave once their pension pot is good and full at yours and mine expense.