Another major development has been approved for Gunville, but further road safety measures have been secured.
The outline application for more than 100 houses proposed by developers Gallantgreen was approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee on Tuesday night.
No specific number has been set yet but plans include an estimated 117 properties in the fields next to and behind the former Friends of the Animals Charity Shop.
The application first came before the committee last year but was deferred due to highways concerns and the request for more information.
After further exploration, council officers advised the original scheme — removing the pinch point on Gunville Road and replacing it with a zebra crossing — was the most suitable but also suggested a pedestrian and cycling link from the east of the site (towards Carisbrooke College) through to Taylor Road.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Matt Price asked for another zebra crossing to be installed on Gunville Road, closer to Home Bargains as it was a difficult road for school children to cross and relied on motorists stopping.
Councillor Geoff Brodie said he was disappointed the opening of Taylor Road to motorists was essentially rubbished by officers but said he would support the application as it had addressed the pedestrian safety issues. However, he urged the council’s cabinet to look at the highway link, given the amount of land designated for future development in the area.
Councillor Peter Spink said by approving the application they were condemning the residents of Gunville to a huge amount of development and sitting in large traffic jams in rush hours.
Councillors passed the development, from a motion put forward by Cllr Price, with 5 votes in favour and 4 against, with the extra provision of 2 zebra crossings, retaining a public space in perpetuity and 80% designated as affordable rent.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Price said he was frustrated that he was interrupted by the chair, Councillor John Medland, as it did not allow him to put forward his entire view. Cllr Medland was conscious of time, saying in the meeting an extension would have to be asked for if discussions continued. The meeting, however, finished with 10 minutes to spare.
Cllr Price said he had discussed with officers including a condition that ensured housing would be exclusively for Islanders, which they had no problem with. However, Cllr Price said as his train of thought was disrupted by Cllr Medland the condition was not added to the permission and it now cannot be after the committee approved the application.
He said it was always hard to vote for large developments and he tried to squeeze as much out of the development for the community as possible.
A further application will have to come forward in the future to determine the layout, scale and appearance of the development.
No surprises there then , build build build…….
No wonder we are sinking !!!!!!
How about sorting out our Hospital , Dr’s , Dentists etc before we are overtaken by rabbit hutches, and concrete?????
But if you are private health care well you don’t care !!!!!!
Alliance ….
One big joke !!!!!
The planners developers and top councillors ALL have private health care so ‘ don’t care’
So another 300 or so more people on the island, of course there will be no expansion to schools, doctors surgeries, dentists etc. So who actually benefits from these developments? It’s the developers who make millions in profits destroying the places that they build on, absolutely shameful.
Don’t forget the extra sewage to deal with.
Unbelievable. What has Gunville done to earn the Council’s contempt? They have railroaded yet another development through by deliberately using the ‘time’ card to halt debate. The Broadwood Lane development
opposite this one was put last on the agenda, went into extra time causing two of the committee to leave before voting and was forced through with swathes of double yellow lines. The community of Gunville thrown under the bus by greedy developers and self-serving politicians. Of course they won’t want to house Islanders when they can get paid for taking the mainland overspill. Gunville Road will be horrendous and the Waverley roundabout will be a car park. But neither the developers or councillors live here so why would they care?
Absolutely disgusting, I’m so angry ,,what about the people who already live there and pay the stupid councillors wages , shame on all of you ,you do not listen or act in our interests ,you are disgraceful!
What a f××king joke yet again
Well done IWC .. another brain phart decision houses before infrastructure.. still that’s why StMarys Roundabout was removed to make the queues longer for us all ..
A no confidence vote in this useless council is long overdue. It is time to get rid of them. We shouldn’t have to wait for election time to rid ourselves of such a corrupt, good for nothing council as ours.
So in theory some 100+ new homes could go to non-Islanders cos some bloke called time early. Shambles.
Look at the owners of gallant green ltd
I agree we don’t need any more immigrants without vast improvements in services and infrastructure, but can we assume that all hundred purchasers will be lured from off the Island because there are some new houses for sale? There are thousands of nice homes for sale at the moment on the Island. But I agree that the new must come from somewhere. In theory these homes will be second or third moves for people working their way up the ladder, with those a few rungs down buying the ones that are vacated by the moves.
As an Overseer, surely you are an immigrant to the Island. Why should you have a home here and others not?
I assume you didn’t read what I said, Mark. It was that we don’t need any more immigrants without vast improvements in services and infrastructure. From what I have seen, read and heard, I suspect that would be a near-unanimous feeling amongst residents. Unless of course, you don’t have a problem with our clearly over-burdened systems and resources? I first came here on a RM landing craft seventy years ago and have been writing about the Island and living here on and off for the past sixty years. Sadly, I find one of the biggest problems with having a sensible debate about anything nowadays is that so many people leap to the attack without thinking about what the other person has said…and what they are going to say.
What I said Mark was that we don’t need any more immigrants ‘without vast improvements in services and infrastructure.’ I suspect any survey amongst residents would reveal a near-unanimous agreement with that view. Unless you don’t agree that we are severely under-resourced in systems, services and infrastructure?
We need immigrants due to the staff shortages in the areas you describe. The Govt is failing us, not the IW Council.
Soon be waiting 5 years for a dentist appointment, doctors appointment, hospital appointment
If people over here continue to vote Tory yes.
Well said Monkey! When it comes to voting at the next General Election, I wonder how many don’t EVEN BOTHER? How many will continue to vote Conservative?
Don’t moan, bitch and whinge if you don’t do anything about getting these useless Tories out of Westminster and the Council Offices in County Hall in Newport!!!!!
You are just showing your own ignorance and stupidity. We currently have an independent council, not Tory. And no matter who you waste your time voting for, you will just get more of the same. All politicians are liars, get that in to your thick head.
What’s a dentist? There are no NHS dentists taking on patients.
Childrens teeth will rot and no one gives a damn.
No doctors appointments at the moment so it will get worse.
The NHS on the island is a farce..
Basically paying money for something we can’t use how is that legal
Does anyone know what’s the progress on Westridge? All gone very quiet.
Utter madness, what island are these councillors living on, they obviously have no thought for the people of the Newport area, or of the Island. Do they really not know how stretched the medical services are, if so, they are either delinquent or just don’t care.
More dead heads from mainland and boat people houses disgusting
A 100 more homes and more to come on the Island. What about a New Big Hospital Please, and staff to run it!!.
AFFORDABLE AND FOR ISLAND RESIDENTS ONLY?????????? Let’s hope so but knowing this council, probably not!
Cos they only tell the truth and never lie !
Well thanks a lot island councillors! You have really thought this one out . Waverley roundabout is at capacity priory road is so dangerous,I’ve been knocked from my bike twice along there ,so I won’t cycle it . What about the locals who have to put up with your stupid decisions ? I’m so glad I voted for a green councillor what made me think it would make any difference! I wonder where all the councillors who voted for this live and are there any estates planned there ? Of course not ,I hold you in utter disgust .
Them tories gotta go next time , and il be surprised if the dont