No decision has been made on the Island Planning Strategy, despite a 3-hour meeting at County Hall to discuss the matter last night (Wednesday).
The controversial planning strategy — which would set the Island’s housing targets for the next 15 years among other policies — was discussed at the Isle of Wight Council full meeting.
Sparks flew about pushing through the plan to save the Island from unwanted developments but also airing concerns about using out-of-date data and lowering the housing target for the Island.
A motion to put the vote out to a 6-week consultation, before sending it off for scrutiny and approval by the government’s Planning Inspectorate, was tabled by Councillor Paul Fuller, the cabinet member for housing. After lengthy debate, Cllr Fuller’s motion fell by 18 votes to 16.
A 2nd motion was tabled at the start of the debate by Councillor Chris Jarman, cabinet member for strategic finance and transformational change, to send the IPS back for consideration and recalculate the housing figures using the recently published 2021 census data, and not the 2014 figures as in the current IPS.
However, time ran out before the 2nd motion could be voted on so no final decision has been made on the future of the IPS.
The crunch meeting could only run for 3 hours as per the Isle of Wight Council’s constitution and there is no room at all for the extension.
The Island Planning Strategy will come back to full council – but it is not yet known when.
Oh well it will just give developers more time to bring forward developments on greenfield sites like the recent one proposed for Northwood and with no plan in place they will get the green light on appeal wether it has been recognised for development or not. Well done Isle of Wight Council. Let’s face facts the data was probably not out of date when this process started but you have spent so much time with your in-house squabbling, your new data will probably be out of date again by the time you make a decision.
I wonder if they are allowed to build girt big housing developments on the Orkney islands or the sylley isles ?
So do they still get paid for the 3 hour meeting?
Do as they say and not as they do…….
Apparently…..gould bless em.
Pillars of the community they is.
Be grateful !
Can’t quite decide which is more likely – this out-of-date Strategy being agreed upon, the Ocean Hotel being demolished, or snow at Christmas.
Ran out of time ?¿????????
They have known about this for ages!!!!!!
Just goes to show what a waste of space these numptys really are ……
Or if they spent less time bickering and back biting they may ??? I say may achieve something ?????
Surely we the electorate deserve better than this load of Boloney….
Alas I fear whoever gets voted in they are all tarred and feathered will the same brush !!!!!!!!
Welcome to the concrete jungle jigsaw…
Goodbye tourism …..
How did you get your question mark upside down ?
The island unfortunately, has an ongoing problem that it never seems to elect councillors
with flair or people who can make decisive decisons for the island. Until this happens we will
end up exactly as we are now nowhere.
IMO, This Island is getting feeled up with rich snobs who can not afford to move to Jersey.