Cowes GPs would not be able to cope and patient safety would be at risk if 163 homes were approved for a site on the outskirts of the town – that’s the message from Cowes Medical Centre to the Isle of Wight Council as it considers outline plans for a big development on the former dairy and beef-producing Somerton Farm.
The proposals have been submitted by the owners of the farm, Mr and Mrs Sam Biles, for a mixed-use development on Newport Road, which, along with flats and houses could see 43 commercial units built as well. In the application, Mr Biles highlighted the need for housing due to the lack of delivery on the Island. He said 355 of the properties would be affordable.
During the public consultation phase, 5 people supported the plan, saying it was ideal as the site had already been pinpointed for housing, was on the main bus route and close to employment opportunities, shops and schools. Another said it was a logical infill development on the edge of Cowes that would have minimal impact but maximum returns for young families.
However, more than 60 others have objected, saying the development is too big for Cowes, especially with other large-scale schemes in the area, it would destroy the green belt and impact existing wildlife. A common theme to the objections was a lack of infrastructure in the town which is already struggling to cope.
In a letter to the IW Council, Cowes Medical Centre said it understood the Island had a housing obligation but patient numbers already exceeding staff capacity.
It says given the current and predicted clinical staff shortages they are duty bound to object to the application, as the additional housing could detrimentally impact sustainability and safety.
Staffing is its key issue it says as it fears it would not be able to recruit extra staff to meet the needs of patients, already looking after 15,300 patients.
Both Northwood Parish Council and Cowes Town Council objected to the application, with concerns about the settlement boundaries merging, the increase of traffic and no need for the small business units as there are some already vacant units nearby.
Northwood Parish Council will be further discussing the application on January 3.
The timeframe for comments has closed but they can still be submitted although they may not be considered.
Shouldn’t go ahead then simple, of course it’s profits over the people who live in Cowes for the Isle of Wight council, brown envelopes will be in full force for this one.
It will be the same with the Godshill development, you can’t get to see a Doctor, you have to go online, wait for a callback from the Doctor or often a nurse, or a receptionist who will ask the same questions you’ve answered online, will put a prescription out for you, if no better get in touch, and here we go again online wait for a call back etc, etc
Well, I grew up on a farm, it never done me no harm, only went to the doctors once or twice.
And yet no doubt our amazing planning numptys will give the go ahead ,,,,, so as to top up their over inflated pension pot !!!!¡
Surely if you are in the real world you should know that Dr’s Dentists and our ONE!!!! Hospital cannot cope with all the new builds ????
Oh no sorry all they think about is MONEY……
Fear not, it is NOT a problem that doctors, dentists, hospitals may struggle to cope.
For the developers, planners, and councillors will ALL have private health care& private education for their loved ones.
So NOT a problem for them, in fact will make all richer.
Mind it will be a problem for us, but understand they could not care less only falsely at ‘voting time’
Spot on. Those few who crave wealth and power for the sake of it inflict misery on the rest of society. This is a worldwide problem.
They have an unfairly high level of influence coupled with a low level of conscience and empathy.
I cannot see this changing any time soon.
Democracy is clearly under threat. We need more politicians at all levels with a real sense of what is right and not what increases their wealth and power. They do exist but are sadly outnumbered .
If the houses are built for people on isle of wight who need housing then its a benefit to our community. If the houses are built to expand the already over filled population on iow then its a no…
Why is the local medical practice concerned when A+E or Urgent care have hour long waiting times displayed outside st marys and no official person gives two hoots? The island cant cope with more houses id imagine…..the hospital is outdated but its more profit for the local goverment
The Medical Center would not cope with any more patients, that added with the lack of available Dentists and an already over run Hospital it is maybe time to call a halt.
Cowes is so desperately in need of houses isn’t it? I will bet that this development is all for affordable housing people as well isn’t it?
It’s a farm and should be kept as a farm, we need food much more than we need housing but you can’t put a price on greed when it comes to cashing in on land! Perhaps I should apply to build an affordable house on my front garden eh?
All the pending proposed housing developments and those recently passed by the Council Planners need to be looked at from
a different angle.
The infrastructure on this Island is already unable to cope. The medical and dental services are really struggling. More housing is not necessarily a good thing per se and the voices of those providing essential services , and those of the local population need to be given more weight than the voices of those in it purely for profit.
Exactly the same situation in Newport. The single GP practice in Newport can’t cope now, when Pan and Gunville developments are completed it will be completely ‘submerged’
can’t cope now no one hardly works in it any more..
Sam Biles doesn’t deserve this planning permission to be granted.
SAY NO
A massive problem is that a large proportion of these homes are actively marketed on the mainland to retired people who have far greater medical needs than a young islander who just wants a home to call their own.
And a main reason WHY so many elderly now wish to move away from locations they know and love loosing family and friends is because they feel displaced by masse immigration, and strangers in their own towns and Cities.
Whilst the Island has always attracted retired folk here the amount due to above is now causing us massive problems.
Ask subtly recently arrived pensioner IF, as you will you disagree or doubt my words.
But these houses wouldn’t be affordable, would they? How is over 300k for a tiny house, affordable, especially in todays climate?
Jobs are hard to come by that actually offer decent pay and stability – so how are young people ever going to be able to buy a house to call their own? As a comment says above, if these houses were for islanders who wanted a newer home, all would be well. But, there not – they’ll be advertised elsewhere for people to buy – adding to our already overpopulated island.
Our infrastructure cannot cope at present, this will only damage it further. We have one hospital already at breaking point, most GP surgeries on the island are, too.
Also, for those assuming that councillors have private healthcare – that’s all well and good, but the island no longer has private healthcare.
So, in an emergency where would they go? Grab a boat to the mainland?
And even when we had private healthcare, you were still treated in St Mary’s, by the same staff you’d have if you were an ordinary NHS patient.
Perhaps conversations need to be had about branching out within the hospital – I.e ways to recruit and retain staff so that smaller centres could be built to deal with specific illnesses so that the main site was not overloaded. However, until staffing is sorted, no other facility could be built. We struggle to staff this one, let alone recruit for another.