Planning permission is being sought after a barn situated between Chale and Blackgang was rebuilt and turned into a motorcycle group’s clubhouse without consent.
The retrospective application has been submitted by Mr and Mrs Colson after Isle of Wight Council enforcement officers were made aware of the changes.
A barn at Sheep Lane Farm, on Blythe Shute, was damaged by the weather but rebuilt in 2016, according to planning documents, and has been used by the Jager Riders club for more than a year.
The club met once or twice a month using the clubhouse as a place to socialise and plan events, with members from across the Island, but due to COVID-19, activities have since stopped.
The council contacted the applicants in October 2019 over the alleged breach of planning control and were told of plans to diversify the farm business.
It was said some of the agricultural buildings were not fit for modern-day farming machinery but enforcement officers said that needed to be considered before the changes took place and as that had not happened, ‘breaches of planning control had been established’.
As the barn was rebuilt it still contains aspects of the previously standing structure but now holds a communal lounge space, bar and kitchen for community use, complete with outside decking area.
The Isle of Wight Council also raised concerns about the impact it might have to neighbours and said such a clubhouse was more likely to be found in more urban settings as opposed to the rural countryside, where it is more likely to disturb the tranquillity.
Environmental Health, however, said it had not received complaints relating to the motorcycle club, and does not object to the application but asked for conditions to be imposed relating to how frequently the club meets, the hours the clubhouse is open and that no loudspeakers or form of amplified music is permitted externally.
Planning agents, BCM, said the farm location is as suitable, ‘if not more so’, for the motorcycle club where there are limited neighbours and ample parking.
In defence of the application, BCM said:
“The Jager Riders club have made this barn their own and the refusal of this planning application will mean they will lose their clubhouse.”
Island Roads is recommending the application be refused, however, due to limited visibility at the junction with Sheep Lane Farm and Blythe Shute and the ‘intensification’ of vehicle movements the proposal would bring.
To view the application (21/00077/FUL), you can visit the council’s planning portal. Comments will be accepted until 5th March.
“The Isle of Wight Council also raised concerns about the impact it might have to neighbours and said such a clubhouse was more likely to be found in more urban settings as opposed to the rural countryside, where it is more likely to disturb the tranquillity.”
Nice example of double-standards from the council. So basically in urban settings, there are no rights to tranquillity. Hope they get permission.
This Island desperately needs some life put back in it. Literally nowhere to socialise or dance anymore. Just pub after pub. Far more antisocial environments. People don’t make friends anymore. They just fight. Miss the diversity of venues and people. Surely this would be beneficial to the island economy also.
Not at a farm and it’s supposed to be a private club so no benefit to iow economy
This must be close to were someone in the planning department live they are concerns about the impact it might have to neighbours what about the many neighbours in ryde who will be next to pennyfeathers development did they think about them NO And then island roads want it refused saying due to limited visibility at the junction with Sheep Lane Farm and Blythe Shute and the ‘intensification’ of vehicle movements the proposal would bring. So all the Traffic pennyfeathers will bring so that will be safe will it
Spot on Dot.
Those in charge are self serving, and as you say, it is likely that one of their ‘ilk’ lives nearby.
They are knowingly going to dump, thousands from the mainland here, who have no ties, no link, and no love for this Island, to them, just a ‘soft’ touch population, ineffective Police force and another place to ruin and exploit.
This co un cil are so biased, so out of touch, and so greedy and only care for them selves and ilk, they need to be voted out in May.
Someone obviously nearby is anti biker .as others have said ,smacks of double standards on the council’s part .they are too used to getting big fat brown envelopes from developers wanting their plans passed .
This isn’t Niton but I hope Richard Quigley and the Greens follow this up
What everyone is missing is that the development has already been dun with out permission and only reason the application has been put forward is they got found out by planning so surely every one should be against the fact that these people thought they had the right to just build what they want when most people do it right and apply before doing the work