A children’s playground on Ryde Esplanade has been ripped out and replaced with a construction site as work gets underway on the diversion of the outfall pipe at Cornwall Slip.
Ryde residents and businesses alike have been left frustrated that machinery and containers have moved onto the site on the seafront, as they say they have not been made aware that work would begin ahead of the Spring and Summer seasons. Previous communication from the Environment Agency stated that work was due to begin in September 2018.
Parts of the beach at Ryde and the popular sand playground are now going to be out of action until July, which could spell disaster for local businesses who rely on passing trade between Ryde Harbour and North Walk. The section of beach between the 2 points is to be segregated.
The work, which is being carried out by BAM Nuttall, will see the existing outfall pipe diverted westwards into Ryde Harbour. The extensive work is being undertaken to stop the outfall pipe from being clogged up with sand.
Although many people say they are unaware of the plans, which have been moved forward by 6 months, the Environment Agency have confirmed that a number of public meetings have been held – although these meetings have been with a local flood action group made up of immediate locals, not the wider community.
As well as work at Cornwall Slip on the Esplanade, permanent barriers are to be erected around Simeon Street rec to make the park a holding tank in the event of major flooding.
An Environment Agency spokesman has told Island Echo:
“The Monktonmead scheme will help protect more than 300 properties in Ryde from flooding. The work, which we plan to start in early March, will include an area to hold water during a flood, and a new release point, or outfall, for floodwater, built under Ryde beach.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have kept the local community updated on our proposals, at meetings between ourselves and other local agencies. These meetings have been open to the public.
“Along with Isle of Wight Council, working with us on the project, we intend to hold an open day in the spring, to give more detail on the proposed flood walls around Simeon recreation ground.
“While flooding can never be fully eradicated, the Environment Agency is confident flood-risk will be reduced in Ryde as a result of these improvements.”
The playground will be reinstated following completion of the works.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that members of the public have not been consulted on the removal of the playground…
“The new general arrangement plan indicates that the playground is to be used as a temporary compound for the duration of the beach works and then the play equipment will be reinstated. This play area is outside of the application site for the purposes of the planning application/permission. The original general arrangement plan had shown that the site compound would be on the beach within the site area further to the NW. As the new general arrangement plan was only recently approved by the LPA [Local Planning Authority] as a non-material amendment to the original permission, members of the public would not have seen this as part of the consultation on the original planning application.
“The temporary use of the play area as a site/works compound in connection with the outfall works, would not require planning permission by virtue of the provisions of Class A of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to the GPDO (General Permitted Development Order). In addition, the Council and EA [Environment Agency] do have permitted development rights under Class A of Part 12 (local authorities) and Class D of Part 13 (development by the EA) for the installation/reinstallation of play equipment and development by the EA for the purposes of its functions.
“The LPA had originally provided advice to the EA that this development to re-route the outfall was permitted development and did not require planning permission, but the EA submitted a planning application in any event”.
