A century-old water hydrant ‘is not someone’s personal property’ and cannot just be moved 1.5m, Whitwell Parish Council has said, as it joins residents fighting against plans.
More than 30 objections have now been submitted against proposals to relocate the cast iron, Grade II listed, Glenfield and Co water pump on Whitwell High Street.
It is 1 of a series in the village that were installed in the late 1880s and paid for by residents of the parish and philanthropist, William Spindler.
Plans seeking to move it 1.5m have been submitted to the Isle of Wight Council to facilitate a new access road to a proposed 22-house development.
At a meeting earlier this week, Niton and Whitwell Parish Councillors said they were ‘categorically against’ moving it as the hydrants belong to the people of the village.
The Parish Council has been ‘custodian’ of the hydrants for decades and has been active in the upkeep of the water system and pumps, cleaning and painting them, ensuring they are in good condition.
Cllr Tim Addison said:
“As funny as it may seem to those outside the village, it shows the degree to which the rest of us care about our historical and environmental heritage.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is being treated as someone’s personal property, we have not been consulted as a potential owner and it is not there to be used as a personal chattel, it is not appropriate.”
The Parish Council says it stands behind Whitwell residents who ‘do not approve’ of the plans, due to its ‘integral image’ on the High Street and its ‘historic heritage importance’ within the village.
In its objection to the Isle of Wight Council, the Parish Council highlights concerns raised by Historic England about protecting the hydrant during the construction phase of developments.
The hydrant has been moved before, for the safety of the village as it allowed to road to be widened and pavements to be installed. The hydrant was then listed in November 1993.
If only people cared as much for the desecration of our culture and race then perhaps crime, the emergence of once eradicated diseases, overpopulation, poverty, housing shortages, religious extremism, crowded hospitals, doctors, dentists, motorways, trains and of course our prisons.
So I wish them well for to win a small victory in this messed up society is rare, let alone hope that deeply serious issues will be resolved.
What a shame that these parish councils don’t actually engage with the other 98% of their parishioners and don’t inform what’s going on anymore,we used to be dropped monthly pamphlet, invited to meetings,join petitions etc but now only a few narrow minded individuals who don’t like change for better. How is moving something some 5ft an issue. They don’t like plans for development of just 22 needed houses yet , they were in support I see ,of an unneeded ,out of keeping with area house built on Greenfield and destroyed local wildlife and pollution of water way ! (Now up for sale at £1.4 million). In parish council it’s who you know and money that talks.
Is this village utopia, where nothing ever goes wrong and the only thing they have to get vexed about is moving a redundant fire hydrant 1.5 metres, This seems very petty, no one is suggesting putting it in a skip or painting it black, its been moved before.,it has no function, stick it in a museum there it can be protected. There are far more inportant things to worry about
This is such an important news story it should make The Sun/Mirror or even GB news !. NOT
old people, nothing must change. Hope I don’t become like them when I get old.
I’m old,but sometimes change is good, throughout life we have changes,soon only electric cars,no gas central heating,no phone line,no TV via airel and we will have cures for cancer , Parkinson’s etc. This village lives in dark age’s, it’s happy to loose it’s shop and Post Office and soon it’s garage and pub!.
do any of you actually live in whitwell, i was born in the village moan about your own woe begotten place