An Isle of Wight councillor involved in the fight to stop house building plans at Seaclose Park in Newport has declared ‘we’ve won’ after the Isle of Wight Council announced a u-turn last week.
Councillor Mathew Price said during the campaign, ideas and suggestions had come forward to use the site for additional recreational leisure and sports facilities and these were now being looked at further. He also said the Island could now look forward to welcoming back the Isle of Wight Festival to its home in 2021.
As previously reported by Island Echo on Thursday, the Isle of Wight Council has backtracked on its desire to build houses on Seaclose Park, after the Newport community came out in force to oppose the development.
Proposed as part of the draft Newport Harbour Masterplan, now set to go before the council’s cabinet in November, more than 40 houses could have been built on the entrance to the park on Fairlee Road.
A petition with more than 3,100 signatures, started by Cllr Matthew Price, led the campaign to have the proposals removed and has yielded success.
Cllr Dave Stewart, leader of the council, said:
“We want to minimise the development on greenfield sites and will only look to do so in exceptional circumstances and with the right environmental approach.”
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In response to the news, Cllr Price posted a ‘positive update’ on the petition’s change.org page to say they had won their campaign against the ‘dreadful proposals’. He thanked the community and members of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council for their support and the Isle of Wight Council for listening to residents and acting decisively.
He said:
“The council was right to have a plan that explored all options to regenerate Newport Harbour. It is also right in seeking to build much-needed local housing.
“The problem was Seaclose — a much-loved and well-used local amenity site — was not the correct location for development of this kind, which is far better suited to brownfield land.”
Not often that I have any good words for a councillor but well done Mr Price
Part of their plan. They knew that this would be rejected. The real location for their 40 homes will be released soon and people are now more likely to accept that because the alternative is Seaclose.
Spot on, a ‘Sprat, to catch a Mackerel’.
Well done and Mr Price deserves a medal!