The controversial planning application to build holiday units on protected woodland in Bembridge will be refused, according to the local Isle of Wight councillor.
The application had attracted more than 300 objections. Newly elected Councillor Joe Robertson said he was pleased to share the news that the building of holiday units on Love Lane would not go ahead.
Posting on the Bembridge community Facebook page, Cllr Robertson said he was glad that sense had prevailed as the small woodland site was not suitable for housing of any kind or for exploitation for financial gain.
Plans for the site were drawn up by Love Lane IOW to build 2 one-bed lodges on woodland which planning documents said had fallen into neglect, with permission granted to remove and replace 6 dead trees.
Mounting opposition against the plans had been branded as an ‘organised campaign’ which ‘bordered on mass hysteria’ by the agent for the development Martha James, of Plan Research. At one point, police were called to a peaceful protest
In a letter to planning officer Russell Chick, Mrs James raised concerns about the ‘undue influence’ of the determination of the application by former Isle of Wight councillor Michael Murwill and Bembridge Parish Council. She also criticised objectors.
She said:
“Our clients cannot visit the site without fear of physical assault yet none of the councillors involved appear to be demanding better behaviour from the residents that are causing the trouble.
“I completely understand councillors have their own views on planning applications and need to support members of the community who wish to object … however the process is meant to be democratic and based on material planning considerations, not mob rule.”
The point of the holiday lodges, Mrs James previously said, was to provide maintenance to the woodland and create an area of wildlife interest for tourists who would use the lodges as overnight accommodation.
According to planning documents, the lodges had been designed to fit in with the woodland setting, clad in timber and with living moss roofs, ‘directly responding to the constraints of the woodland location’.
Celebrating the refusal of the application, Cllr Robertson said:
“The cost to local amenity value along this narrow tranquil lane would be too great. I hope the mainland based applicants can understand the strength of local feeling and seek more appropriate opportunities elsewhere.”
Cllr Robertson, who represents Bembridge on the local authority, went on to thank objectors to the application, his predecessor Michael Murwill, the Isle of Wight CPRE and MP Bob Seely, who Cllr Robertson said: “had a proven track record of objecting to inappropriate greenfield development all over the Island”.
The full officers’ decision notice, detailing the grounds for refusal, is set to be published in the coming days.
have you never been to centre parks
I am not paying two hundred pounds for a **few swims,etc, rather go to local council pool then a free walk in the countryside.
Great news. Sick and tired of arrogant developers claiming their eyesores are a benefit to the landscape when the opposite is ALWAYS true.
Let’s hope this is one of many planning ideas that will be stopped.
The point of the holiday lodges, Mrs James previously said, was to provide maintenance to the woodland and create an area of wildlife interest for tourists who would use the lodges as overnight accommodation.
……
The woman still doesnt get it does she….how can you maintain a woodland and create an area of wildlife interest,when the woodland has been cut down to make space for holiday lodges and without the woodland there is no area of wildlife interest.
it is fine as an area of wildlife interest as it is and for woodland maintenance, you have qualified people turn up periodically and carry out maintenance and then go home again.
Brillian!!t – my statement is apparently too short, so Brilliant!!
Funny how just because its Bembridge it got refused, I bet it wouldn’t be the case if it was Ryde or east cowes or Newport which are already built up areas.
LOVE LANE (Really ? ) ? Spoilsports,? not in my backyard Eh?