Isle of Wight Liberal Democrat Group has welcomed the decision by the Council’s Cabinet to accept an amendment to a draft planning strategy policy. The change would provide greater equality for Islanders and parish, town and community councils when making valid objections to planning applications on large developments. The amendment came after lengthy discussions between Lib Dem councillor, Michael Lilley, planning officers, and the Cabinet member for planning. With the acceptance of the amended wording, the Lib Dem group have said they will collectively be able to support the draft Island Planning Strategy due to be debated by the Full Council on 1st May 2024. Explaining the rationale behind the new wording, Councillor Michael Lilley explained:
“My ward of Ryde Appley and Elmfield has suffered for many years have what is termed allocated land/sites presented by landowners for large housing development although objected to by Ryde Town Council and thousands of residents, due to an out-dated plan and faced with further disadvantage in the proposed draft Island Plan. “We needed wording in the plan that did not give allocated sites by landowners any more advantage than any other application. We needed to get equality into the plan. “By working with the Cabinet Member for Planning and council officers we were able to agree new wording for the relevant section 6.15 of the draft strategy. “I believe this this new wording now provides stronger equality for Islanders and parish, town and community councils when making valid material objection to planning applications on large developments with no exceptions and bias in favour of allocated and identified sites by wealthy landowners. It is about getting a fair deal for Islanders.”
Lib Dem Councillor Nick Stuart added:
“As Chair of the IW Council’s Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, I was extremely thorough with cross-party members in making sure Cabinet committee had recommendations that strengthen the plan for residents. All of our recommendations were accepted by Cabinet including ones I specifically led through on flooding and ancient woodland. The DIPS will never be perfect but it offers a much better chance for the Island, especially with the new wording of 6.15, to decide its own fate so I will be supporting it.”
There should be no more large planning applications aloud on the island why do you think most of are streams rivers and sea’s polluted with sewage
Industry. And the failings of the water companies to invest our money into treatment plants.
People need housing.
There are enough properties on the island, planning should be
for the old derelict buildings to be revamped.
Ban building more properties on this crumbling Island, the infrastructure on the
Island cannot cope now!
Look at St Mary’s they spend the majority of the year overwhelmed.
The Ferry Services are Poor etc etc
There are plenty of properties on the island but many are holiday homes and unoccupied for most of the year. But you are correct that there are plenty of derelict sites that could be levelled and used to build blocks of cheap flats for locals. The problem is that the council can’t find developers who are willing to build cheap flats as they prefer the more lucrative holiday home market. It doesn’t matter how much they dress it up with promises of some “affordable housing” because it is obvious that these houses are not for low-paid locals. IWC can offer money to developers to build cheap flats but cannot build flats themselves. Could they work at a smaller scale and give local builders funds to build private flats in Newport/Ryde?
Is this the same Lib Dem party that said they’d never vote for an increase to student fees and then did just that when they sold out to the Tories?
Looks like a cast reunion from Happy Days.
But no Fonzie!