“Enough is enough” when it comes to new housing in the Newport West, Carisbrooke and Gunville area, a local councillor has warned.
The warning comes as developers appear to be commencing the early stages of preparation for several potential house-building projects in the area, including off Sylvan Drive.
Commenting on the news that further new housing development is about to occur, local ward coucillor Chris Whitehouse, has said:
“Our area is already one of the most intensely developed on the Island with thousands of houses and no less than five schools. There has to come a point at which local residents are entitled to say that enough is enough, our infrastructure, especially our roads, just cannot possibly cope with more development”.
Councillor Whitehouse adds:
“We are looking at an imminent redevelopment by Spectrum Housing of the redundant playing field alongside Taylor Road, Newport West; two sites off Sylvan Drive being developed; and redundant land from the new, smaller Carisbrooke College site being released for housing or retail park development. These projects can only act as traffic magnets and will have a serious and adverse impact upon local roads, noise, traffic and air-pollution; in short upon many important aspects of the quality of life of local residents”.
“I’m already in close communication with planning officers and councillor colleagues to argue that my local residents must have every opportunity to influence plans before they are finalised, in particular in relation to the density and category of development that is permitted and to ensure that footpaths, bridleways and cycle routes are fully incorporated before designs are accepted. And as for the parking, don’t even start me on that local disaster”.
