Local MP Bob Seely is backing Niton residents who want to see a planning application for over 50 new homes on greenfield land rejected.
If approved, the plans for housing on land at Ladyacre Farm would see a new access road built and junction created from Newport Road.
Mr Seely, who attended a meeting of the Niton & Whitwell Parish Council Planning Committee on Monday evening, said he had heard the views of residents loud and clear.
“I have listened to what villagers are saying and I agree that a development of this scale, on unspoilt greenfield land, is not right for this location.
“The village is surrounded by beautiful AONB and has naturally dark skies. This area should not be viewed a prime site for development, rather it should be targeted for greater protection.
“This size of the proposed development will put pressure on infrastructure, and I am particularly concerned about the risk of flooding to properties with increased run-off, especially during periods of heavy rain such as we have seen recently.
“I’m also concerned about the additional volume of traffic this development would put on a narrow rural road.”
Mr Seely said he did not want the recent approval of the development at Westridge Farm to set a precedent across the Island and said he hoped that this application would be considered and determined in its own right.
He said:
“I was disappointed that the West Acre development in Ryde was given the green light by the IW Council. The sooner the Council can agree on a new Island Plan that puts the needs of communities first, the better.”
I have a feeling that something ‘extraordinary’ may be found for this one. Can’t see it in the new Island plan from the council, while West Acre was always in that.
Might be the dark skies, we don’t get those in Ryde obviously.
Bob it is not right for any location in the island
BUILD FOR NEED NOT FOR GREED
i hope you hear that loud and clear.
Might be because he’s no vested interest in these developments that he hears what the locals are saying.
To late, Westridge has set the rot for years to come, all the council want is money generated through extorting us out of more and more council tax.
I’m hoping that something can still be done to stop the Westridge development. A legal challenge and publicised widely outside the Island. It needs some support from elsewhere other than just down here.
he’s getting worried if this goes through the developers will be on his side of the island soon
Good for you bob lets hope the iwcc planning committee take your comments and the villagers real concerns for the future of village seriously
Did you rodney burt take seriously the destruction of Westridge Farm, and the lose of a way of life for a farming family. Did you object?
Didn’t old Bob Seely get his brown envelope to approve this development?? It’s a shame he’s let the people of Bullen and penny-feathers hang out to dry. Not long before our beautiful isle will become a concrete jungle full of brick, concrete, more cars, more people than 1 little hospital can cope with. Keep putting up the houses without infrastructure, a recipe for disaster but a few people will get rich from it.
If these houses were to be built who would benefit, certainly not Islanders. Surely a new hospital is more important than building houses for mainlanders.
If you are thinking of Building houses on any bit of land that’s available for mainlanders to come and live you will have to start thinking about building a new hospital to cope with the volume of people that come here to live.