An Isle of Wight Councillor has been called into the planning committee after building a stable block bigger than approved.
A neighbour has objected to the retrospective plans which has meant the application, submitted by Conservative Cllr Clare Mosdell, will be determined by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee instead of officers.
However, officers have determined the application should be approved with conditions despite a neighbour’s concerns of overdevelopment and drainage issues.
The site off of Wacklands Lane, Newchurch, is used for equestrian purposes where planning permission was granted in June 2020 to build stables with a footprint of 8 metres by 3.5 metres and a floor space of 28m2.
A planning statement submitted by BCM, acting on behalf of Cllr Mosdell, said the stables have been built in a different position and are now marginally bigger compared to what was approved.
Planning documents, however, show the stable block now has a floorspace nearly doubled than that approved, to 52m2 and measures 15.1 metres by 3.5m.
BCM say the stable block has a traditional and unobtrusive design to fit in with the rural character of the area and will act as per the rationale of the consented scheme as a shelter for the horses.
They said:
“The stables are merely an extension to what currently exists to allow a more undercover usable space for the applicant’s horses.”
As well as the retrospective permission, Cllr Mosdell is seeking to add an all-weather ménage which will be 40 metres by 20 metres, topped with chalk and rubber chippings.
Jason O’Donnell, the landowner who borders the site, has ‘objected strongly’ saying it would lead to overdevelopment and was left with the impression, following a meeting with Cllr Mosdell, that ‘she would not undertake the required drainage works’.
Mr O’Donnell provided pictures of water on his land and said he fears the built-up area will create more water runoff which ‘will seriously flood’ his ‘best and driest field’, ‘rendering it unusable in winter’.
He said:
“When it rains, my fields that border her land flood and the water then flows across my hardstanding (eroding it) to my yard drainage … In the current, and all prior planning for the land, the applicants have stated that drainage would be dealt with by soakaways. There are none on her land.”
It is argued by BCM that the stables have soakaways that were ‘installed by an Island contractor’ based on the existing planning consent but it was hard to ascertain where the water is coming from in the pictures.
They said should it be deemed necessary, a drainage condition could be included in the permission.
In the report going to the planning committee, prepared by council officers, it is acknowledged the stable was built larger than approved but said in spite of that it remains a typical agricultural/equestrian style building located within a rural setting which is characterised by horsiculture.
They said the site would not be overdeveloped as “the building continues to be of a suitable size which appears commensurate with the site and wider landscape and thus would not be excessive or over-dominant.”
In relation to the drainage, officers said the development would be unlikely to increase surface water on the site or runoff to the neighbouring land and the proposed surfacing material for the menage would enable suitable natural drainage.
The Planning Committee will determine the application at its next meeting, Tuesday 6th July.
The nerve of this woman – who should follow the rules she herself enforces – another case of ‘Do as I say – not as I do’. This was not a marginal difference in size at all and well done Island Echo for reporting it.
If we all ignored planning rules what chaos would ensue – she should be ashamed of herself and made to resign.
How easy lockdown must be for those with land, horses, barns and enjoying all the comforts of life, yet how hard it is when all some have is a yard big enough to share with a wheely bin.
Whilst all can’t live so well, the council should limit building here to keep the slighlty better quality of life as in lower crime, less overcrowding than the mainland, otherwise the electorate get dissillutioned when ‘they’ live away from the misery, noise, overcrowding that they are happy to ‘inflict’ upon the rest of us all.
One rule for Them, one rule for the rest of us
Should be taken down and told to build as per the permission given as has happened to many others in the past.
To right, if Joe public did that it be pulled down but Councillors the rules don’t apply
I’m sure the High Sheriff will give her good advice.
This appear to be a complete breach of the planning application.
If the Council do not act to make the applicant adhere fully with the original approval, then they are opening the floodgates to other people, builders, developers etc to completely ignore approved applications and build whatever they want.
that women will never change, She should never ever be trusted
Under the old regime, officers would have been “told”, to agree to let it go through. It’ll be interesting to see if this goes through.
Of course, if it doesn’t, Conservative Cllr Mosdell will claim political influence.
What exacty is “horsiculture”?
It must be so difficult being a land owner, having all this so called water attacking the fields from all angles, farmer at the bottom of the fields, holiday lets, and now a town Councillor, ! What an unfortunate piece of land to own !
This women had nothing not so many years ago
Now a councillor and she can buy lad
Make you wounder?
Only allow what was approved. Just because she is a Councillor she can’t be allowed to to deviate from what was passed. That just wouldn’t be fair would it?
I hope she is going to foot the bill for all the extra work and time the planning people and council are having to put in to undoubtedly pass this little “glitch” in proceedings, yet again, one rule for one and one rule for another (if you know someone in authority who will do ‘a turn for you’ “Typical…..