A fire training facility project on vacant farmland near Gurnard has been approved, despite nearly 50 objections.
Planners granted maritime training company Flying Fish UK permission for a change of use of a site at Cockleton Farm on the outskirts of Cowes and Gurnard, including the creation of an enclosed compound and the siting of containers.
They said the proposal would allow for diversification while not harming the amenities of neighbouring properties.
The Isle of Wight Council received 47 letters opposing the scheme, raising concerns such as ecological and visual impacts, its detrimental effect on nearby residents due to noise and smoke and inappropriate over-development.
A decision report said the project is not considered to culminate in an ‘unacceptable’ level of air pollution.
It said:
“Officers are satisfied that the development site is of an appropriate size to accommodate the fire training facility without resulting in over-development of the site,” it said.
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A total of 12 conditions were attached to the council’s consent, for reasons of highway safety, ecological and environmental protection, the interests of the area’s character and residential amenity, the prevention of annoyance and disturbance from associated odour, legislation and planning policy.
Among the critics of the plan were Wendy and Philip Chapman who told the council it is almost an ‘accident waiting to happen’.
They claimed the development amounts to the ‘industrialisation’ of a rural and residential area and that the character and amenities of the area would be ‘severely compromised’ should the proposal be accepted.
