A planning application that has been turned down twice by the Isle of Wight Council has gone to the Planning Inspectorate for appeal, but local residents are still strong in their opposition.
As previously reported by Island Echo, local firm Reynolds and Read applied to change the use of the former equestrian centre in Binstead back in September last year, but were turned down by the Isle of Wight Council before resubmitting an application again in January, which was also refused.
Reynolds and Read Ltd., who currently operate from a site on a main road at Blackwater, have applied to transform the former Brickfields equestrian centre on Newnham Road into a storage and distribution facility, relocating and consolidating their plant and vehicle operations to the site from existing premises at Blackwater.
The decision to refuse planning permission is now being appealed by the company via the Planning Inspectorate, but residents living in and around Binstead are still rallying against the plans with traffic being a key issue. One local says this image, taken a few hundred yards from Brickfields on the main access road, shows that the roads are simply not wide enough to accommodate HGVs.
Island Roads – who are responsible for the Island’s road network – made representations on the planning application that stated none of the three access roads have been identified as a preferred route as they all have their difficulties. The representation acknowledged that Newnham Road, in the majority of areas, is not wide enough for two large vehicles to pass each other and is barely passable for a large vehicle and a car in several locations. Despite this, they recommended the plans be approved.
Ryde Town Council and the Isle of Wight Rambler’s Association have both previously opposed the plans but the Council’s planning officers recommended approval of the change of use application, which was voted against by the Planning Committee by a 6-2 majority.
Anyone wishing to comment on the appeal has until the 24th August to do so at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ViewCase.aspx?CaseID=3087225&CoID=0.
