The Isle of Wight CPRE has written to Natural England, asking them to object to the proposed development of 56 homes on a greenfield site in Bembridge.
The proposed development (21/01884/FUL) is expected to lead to a significant increase in both nitrate and untreated sewage discharge into the Solent Protection Area. CPRE has called on Natural England to review the drainage report commissioned by the ‘Build and Better Bembridge’ campaign group, and object to the development on these environmental grounds.
Ian Wellby, Trustee of the Isle of Wight CPRE said:
“As well as objecting in our own right, CPRE Isle of Wight is calling on Natural England to add its voice to wide chorus of objectors to this unwanted, unnecessary and damaging assault on the much valued rural fringe of Bembridge.”
“This development would plug into the already inadequate Lane End sewage outfall, which currently discharges sewage yards from the beach directly into the ‘specially protected’ marine conservation zone, equivalent to 251 Olympic swimming pools of sewage released in a year. Connecting yet more houses into a sewage system already not fit for purpose is purely folly, and we call on both Natural England and the Isle of Wight council to send to send this scheme back to the drawing board.”
The application is expected to go before the Isle of Wight Council planning committee on the 25th July.
Funny lot CPRE , they want to stop this needed? development on grounds of drainage and green field. Yet another Island development , also built in green field, totally out of character for area, no drainage and destroyed local wildlife and forced others to sell and other properties devalued ,the CPRE went over the top to support – another organisation that supports/refuses on grounds of who you know and money!.
The issue is that Bembridge has amongst its residents the most destructive and prolific developers the Island has had the misfortune to have in decades.
Bears never defecate in their own woods, and bears who are able to shake hands in a special way with the right people are certain of keeping their area free from ruination.
I believe you may be wrong there. A local Bembridge developer is waiting on the sidelines to develop another greenfield site with 130 homes close to Bembridge Windmill. Plans were due to be submitted in June so watch this space.
And the developer behind the 56 houses also lives in Bembridge.
If that number was multiplied by tenfold then I would see it differently but Ivy is correct
More so if most were social housing to add diversity to village life as has been inflicted on the rest of us
Sounds like not on my door step.we need homes.
You already have one bloom – so no, you don’t need one.
The Planning Meeting on the 25th July has been cancelled so once again the proposal on this contentious application is delayed. One must ask why communities are bothering to undertake `Neighbourhood Plans when both Developers and Planners appear to ignore them. The Bembridge plan which was adopted by the IWC is supposed to protect greenfield sites and communities. Bembridge is not against development but for goodness sake make sure the development satisfies need not greed and is built on brownfield sites rather than take away countryside. Let’s hope that this second cancellation in recent weeks to make a decision on this case does not mean it goes through because of delays in the Planning Department.
The IOW has a lack of genuinely affordable homes to buy and rent and this proposed development will not help a single IOW family on IOW wages. The IOW Council this week revealed they want to start tackling this problem by looking at existing properties to buy. Currently planning officers contend a development is ‘nitrate neutral’ if it is plumbed into Sandown works – however whenever the sewage goes via a local holding tank, during periods of rainfall these are overwhelmed and released into the sea. It isn’t just Bembridge – it is also Appley, Seaview and many others. Westridge Park and Penny Feathers should also be refused for the same reasons.
A quick search on Rightmove today brings up 455 houses/flats for sale at less than £200k, which a couple on low wages could reasonably afford to buy. Some are well under this price. That is extremely good value for the south of England and availability is comparatively high here (over 2000 homes up for sale). The problem seems to be that island people on low wages expect to live in an area that they cannot afford and they need to be realistic. There are plenty of homes available and people need to live within their means.
Would this be Ian Wellby the failed Tory candidate? If so, one suspects his motives are not entirely ecololgical.
The point about raw sewage discharging is very misleading. – The Southern Water plant under the car park at Lane end is a pumping station under which normal conditions pumps everything it receives to the main treatment works at Sandown. It’s only during storm events that the sewage receives a course screening treatment and is pumped out locally but given that it happens during storm events, it will be diluted with all the excess rain water run off that makes it a storm event in the first place. I agree that the station can only deal with so much before it is overwhelmed but the statement in the article is very misleading.
Don’t see why this proposal can’t include for an adequate klargester for each individual property which would discharge treated water only. It’s becoming a requirement in parts of Sussex even for existing properties that are currently only on ceptic tank drainage systems so why not here ?. Resolves many polution problems and not too costly either.