Parish Councillor Joe Lever has objected to the planned development of housing in Gunville and has called for a suitable and robust Island Planning Strategy.
Joe, who is the Green Party candidate for Carisbrooke and Gunville in the May’s local elections, has expressed concerns regarding the proposed development off Gunville Road.
The plan has attracted objections from across the political spectrum.
Speaking about the Gunville scheme, Joe has said:
“Gunville and neighbouring Newport West are relatively large, winding areas plagued with spots of inadequate off-street parking and many households – including my own – are car dependant. A number of roads in these areas (including Carisbrooke) are already considered dangerous for both vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians. This development will only likely make this worse.
“We also have a very big challenge with affordability of housing on the Island, and this issue is running away from the current Council administration. Only 35 percent of new homes proposed for the Gunville development are predicted to be affordable. This number is far from acceptable, especially given the IOW Council’s record on providing affordable housing.”
He adds:
“The Island is now a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, largely due to a recognised harmony between our communities and local environment. The Newport area specifically, has plenty of empty properties that can be turned into efficient, affordable housing. So why are we seeing a proposal for development on land that could otherwise be used for growing local produce; potentially adding risk to our Biosphere status? Additionally, the site at Gunville is now of local archaeological importance after the recent discovery of an Iron Age roundhouse.”
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Mr Lever says that part of the problem is that the Isle of Wight still doesn’t have a suitable and robust Island Planning Strategy:
“The IOW Council’s own website details, “Not having a plan means that the growth will still happen, but we will have less control over where it happens…”. So, unfortunately, until the IOW Council delivers on an adequate planning strategy we will likely continue to see more undesirable planning applications, such as those in Gunville.”
what is needed is the greens to oppose all greenfield house building and campaign for the island to have more and more electric charging stations installed at existing petrol filling stations and slowly begin the change to electric cars.
then they should be campaigning for the tip to be open and free more often to discourage fly tipping, with a lot more investment in the recycling of everything brought to the tip
and finally, after enough vehicles are electric, that the island bans holiday makers and second home owners from bringing non electric cars onto the island, with all petrol and diesel banned afterwards.
Idiotic idea . I take it you are paying for all this yourself .
rusty nuts – all achievable and if you are intelligent enough, you will see that use of the internal combustion engine is beginning to be phased out – it may take decades, however, it will be achieved sooner or later and then there won’t be petrol stations
if you cannot see the route society is moving along, then you will be left behind..
all electric vehicles..charging stations and advances in battery tech will allow power packs to be swapped out, as well.
tobacco consumption ceased by almost all and seen as stupid by the majority
landfill no longer being used, as recycling is the norm
streaming is already taking over video/dvd
leasing instead of owning cars is becoming more and more popular.
cashless society is almost there
Fortunately, although they may agree with your objectives, the Green Party is much more pragmatic and realistic. In fact, the best place for your vote in May.