Over 100 people attended a public meeting at Aspire in Ryde on Friday for those concerned about the recently submitted plans for 80 dwellings on greenfield farmland at Westridge Farm.
The meeting offered opportunities to find out more about the planning proposal and how best to comment on or object to the plans. As well as concerned members of the local community, the audience included the Island’s MP Andrew Turner; town and county councillors; Ryde Town Mayor Henry Adams; the Isle of Wight Society and the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
Westridge Farm is one of the last 10 working dairy farms on the Island and the land earmarked for development by the owner has a long history of being farmed that dates back to the Doomsday Book.
Although Andrew Turner had not specifically been invited to the public meeting, he commented that he had deep concerns about the current proposals. Members of the public were also invited to voice their many concerns and to pick up a handout about the best way to make effective objections to the Isle of Wight Council Planning Office.
Mark Gaskin from Save Westridge Farm said:
“We were absolutely delighted to see so many members of the community come together to find out how best to fight this planning application. Those present highlighted some of the many very real reasons why this development should not be allowed to go ahead.
“We would urge residents to remember that the most effective objections on planning are those which relate directly to the application, i.e. Material Considerations. However emotional we feel about this application, we must object specifically on the plans that have been lodged and the effect such a development would have if it were to go ahead. All comments and objections have to be with the Planning Office by the end of business on 1st July.”
