Bob Seely MP has reacted negatively to the news that a planning application to build 473 homes in Ryde has been given the green light.
As previously reported by Island Echo, Captiva Homes’ West Acre Park, to the west of Elmfield, has been given planning permission by the Isle of Wight Council. It’s said that the permission will now unlock £100million of investment.
However, the Island’s MP says he disagrees with the decision.
In a statement, Bob has said:
“Respectfully, I disagree with the decision. We have all promised to oppose inappropriate large-scale, low-density, greenfield development – just like Westridge.
“I thank those councillors on all sides who tried to find grounds to object. There were reasons for refusal, although I accept that this could have been challenged on appeal.
“The claim that Westridge represents sustainable development is utterly laughable. It is just yet another car-dependent, low-density, greenfield development that will stress our infrastructure, our services and quality of life in the east of the Island. It is the definition of unsustainable.
“It is clear that we need to prepare the Island Plan as urgently as possible because we need to have more power to block developers and their agents doing lasting damage to the Island, against the wishes of communities.
Article continues below this advertisement “I want to reassure people that I will continue to do what I can to ensure that the housing that is built is for Islanders, on brownfield sites, in existing communities, in appropriate amounts. Sadly, I do not have the power to oppose these dreadful developments but rely on Councillors’ good sense. I will also fight as hard as I can to ensure that new national planning laws primarily serve communities’ needs, not developers’.
“We need housing, but in modest numbers, for Islanders, in towns and on brownfield sites. What we do not need is unsustainable, car-dependent, low density, urban sprawl around our towns, of which Westridge is a prime example, which does permanent and lasting harm to our environment.
“I will be talking to Councillors and Officers about potential next steps. We cannot normalise low density greenfield development.”
In other words your hands are tied Bob.
Pointless and meaningless comment if you have no power to do something about it.
Money talks not words.
“Sadly, I do not have the power to oppose these dreadful developments but rely on Councillors’ good sense.”
In a nutshell really.
Hope your statement makes a difference even at this stage.
bob – you can start by initiating a full independent inquiry into the way this was done -with councillor lilley excluded.
And Lilley needs to start looking closely at his ‘advisors’!
I’m sure he’s good intentioned but he mustn’t allow himself to be used as a pawn.
Find out things for himself and to trust no one, (because where this sort of thing is concerned, he can’t, and definitely shouldn’t!).
Better get your finger out bob because we are rapidly reaching tipping point
What is the point of having a representative at Westminster if he can’t actually do anything.
I m sure councillor Brodie will be sleeping well.
There must be something you can do Bob. Surely you can assist with an appeal against what’s happened. We can’t sit back and watch this. Someone on your level needs to intervene otherwise what’s the point of having your level? The people are rising up against this decision and we need intervention before this hits crisis point. Please help.
Root out the corruption, not only in the council, but in the permanent officers in County Hall, otherwise it will never stop. Publicise a full list of all those involved in this planning process, too much goes on behind closed doors. Albeit no different than other councils, or indeed, government. We can elect and de elect councillors, but not those faceless morons who make the decisions for the councillors to rubber stamp. Democracy !!!? It’s a bl….y joke.
I used to work at a London Borough Council in what was called the Audit Department, our job was to check that all non elected council officers were doing their job correctly and indeed there was no corruption or fraud. Unfortunately I believe no such department exists now!!
I’m not sure this whole sorry affair wasn’t manufactured by the Conservative Councillors to discredit the Alliance group, and of course get their own way! Was it not Steve Hastings commenting after the election results something on the lines of promising robust opposition at meetings? Who exactly was it that barred a democratically elected member from attending?
This illegally approved application should be declared Null and Void.
That’s a lot of noise, Bob, but as usual zero action, zero effect.
You don’t have any power, you claim. So why are you in Parliament?
Interesting headline in the Financial Times today – just saying.
As ever our MP and Councillors who say they object to the plans at Westridge don’t do anything other than huff and puff, trying to stay on side with the electorate. Are they really against this development, I’m beginning to wonder. Just like the redevelopment down at the esplanade next week everyone will be blaming the previous administration!!!!
he says he can’t do anything more like he won’t do anything because he don’t want the building on his side of the island he is very happy there filling ryde up he only has to come this side of the island when he has to