Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is backing a campaign which calls on town and parish councils to designate their open spaces as town or village greens to protect them from development.
Mr Seely said the ‘Grant a Green’ campaign – led by national conservation body Open Spaces Society – was another way green areas could be protected from unnecessary development.
Speaking this week, Bob said:
“The threat of overdevelopment on the Island is very concerning. We are seeing planning applications coming forward almost every week on greenfield sites and although I am opposing these, we need a long-term plan to ensure our natural spaces are protected from harmful development.
“I have committed to tackle this issue head-on. The first thing I have done is to lobby Government to see our housing target reduced. I am also working with the Council to make the case for exceptional circumstance for the Island so that we are not bound by national targets.
“Secondly, I am seeking additional protections for our green spaces. I have set out to the Government my vision for the Island to have the UK’s first ‘Island Park’ which would see the Island gain unique protection status somewhere between that of an AONB and National Park.
“Thirdly, I want to work with the Isle of Wight Council to ensure we make the best use of brownfield land for new housing and regeneration schemes.
“There are lots of ways we can work to ensure development happens in the right places without the need to rip up our countryside.
Article continues below this advertisement “One of the ways local town and parish councils can help to save our green spaces is to apply to have their open areas registered as town and village greens and I encourage them to do so. We need to work together to fight against unwanted development that is harmful to our natural environment and reduces our quality of life.”
Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said:
“We are delighted that Bob Seely is supporting our campaign to encourage local councils to register open space as village greens.
“We know that the Island is suffering from proposals for development, and this is a way to secure open spaces for public enjoyment forever. It is heartening to have Bob’s backing and influence for our important endeavour.”
This is great and I hope that Parish Councils will register their spaces.
A good example is Bouldnor Playing Field which Shafleet Parish Council look after extremely well.
That field needs protecting for everyone to use forever.
Unless one of his mates with some land wants to put up new housing.
The thing is Bob this council will not listen.They dont give a hoot about any thing or anyone on the island. I really thought you already new this. They wreck anything in there path then charge for the privilege. You are wasting your time or is this just a ploy untill 6th may?
It would be nice if you could be bothered to reply to these posts.
… protect them from avaricious developers and damaging government policy?
I propose Penny feathers for Ryde.
That’s what people have been trying to do but even if the IOW Council listens, which is unlikely, there seems to be no way of beating the ‘Inspector from Bristol’ (Who obviously couldn’t care less)
Dear Bob, Please make a personal representation to Mr Metcalf at County Hall and make sure that he instructs his underlings to comply with this. In other words STOP ALL THIS BUILDING ON THE ISLAND RIGHT NOW. But be aware that most, if not all, are stone deaf. Thanks.
Stone deaf! Monumental in joke there, my friend. They’ll hammer home their argument regarding any apron of land. Then square up to you and lie to your face. A not so secret sign of the times.
The whole island is behind you
What with all this building going on on greenfield sites, i honestly didn’t think there was any left to protect!
If Boris Johnson gets his way, the entire UK green spaces including the IOW will become a concrete jungle. This man is a total bafoon and in Mr Cummings own words, INCOMPETENT. So yes, take Bob’s advice or we will lose our green spaces.
You watch what happens after the 6th may
Ziltch and more and more green space destroyed for another 4 years
Sure sign elections are on the way.