Brighstone residents are up in arms over plans to build 4 houses on a wet meadow in the village, with strong views expressed at a recent ‘seriously lively’ meeting.
Locals gathered at Wilberforce Hall for the Buddle Brook Biosphere Open Forum on Sunday 1st October, where issues discussed included the proposals for the new houses within a conservation area, as well as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
As previously reported by Island Echo, plans for the same site, adjacent to Lillygrove, were submitted for 2 houses last year and attracted 18 objections, with the latest proposals receiving 26 objections at the time of writing.
Concerns raised include that the scheme would damage the biodiversity of the area, increase the risk of flooding and destroy a critical part of the Buddle Brook biosphere.
Councillor Nick Stuart has requested that the application be called before the planning committee which is currently determining the outcome, but with the level of local outrage about the proposals, residents will be hopeful that the plans are rejected.
Objecting to the application, Cllr Stuart has said:
“This development is unsustainable and would badly damage the biodiversity of 1 of the last remaining stream valley ecologies on South Wight and destroy 1 of the 2 remaining wet meadows in this valley.”
Another issue that was raised at the Forum was a recent proposal by the owners of Mottistone Mill to divert a bridleway, which has been provisionally approved by the Rights of Way department at the Isle of Wight Council on the basis that no objections were received.
However, unlike planning applications, the proposals are not advertised online and many local residents only became aware of the proposal when signs were recently erected at the site.
Since then, there has been significant debate online and the issue is due to be discussed at a Brighstone Parish Council meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) along with the proposed housing development. Another lively meeting is expected.
yes put them in but not 4 make them smaller and put in 10
This all stinks. These scum want to destroy this island. Don’t let them get away with it.
Does sausage bob “Welcome” or “Object to” this plan, let’s take a rough guess. On his doorstep.
Won’t need Bob for this one. Brighstone, like Bembridge, have new housing development locked down in their biodiverse, flood plain villages.
The bridleway diversion is due to the DFL second home owners not wanting ramblers and dog walkers looking at them sitting in their new hot tub in the garden as they walk past.
Simple solution here ~ don’t buy a second home next to a public footpath
Stop putting your malicious spin on this. Everyone is talking out of their hat- the current bridleway has never been fit to be used by horses and wheelchair users alike 1) because it does a dangerous loop around the old buildings (always been there, the owners did not put them there) through their garden 2) because the last section of the bridleway is on a steep hill which goes down again to rejoin the flat bit of the bridleway. The proposed bridleway does away with the hill (wheelchair access) and the loop (safe for horses). This is about usability for all not just the few pedestrians who like to gawp at other people’s houses.
Build a couple of dozen and a half-way-house like Fellowship House. Then towns like Newport and Ryde can have a rest from so much development.
Extra homes on the Island are not needed.
Just do up the old derelict buildings and transform
them into homes.
Stop ruining the countryside, nature and the climate.
Oh dear, some nasty person has suggested building in West Wight rather than Ryde, cheek of the fella … Time to break out the pitchforks !!
Hypocritical from Cllr Stuart who supports development in Elm Lane Calbourne but then he does not live in that Village.
What utters nonsense and drivel
There are no homeless people on the streets, so where are these people who are in such desperate need of houses? They are just scroungers who want bigger houses for nothing in order to accommodate their vile spawn. Stop giving away all of our council tax money to lazy scroungers.
Actually over 40 objections to the original proposal for 2 houses and over 60 to the revised proposal for 4 houses at LilyGrove.