Ryde has little power to halt unpopular housing developments due to a ‘lack of democracy’ at county planning level, it has been claimed this week.
Ryde Society’s chairwoman, Stella Davis, argues that with no representative from the town on the Isle of Wight’s planning committee, controversial schemes have more of a chance of being pushed through.
Ms Davis has spoken out in the wake of an article published on Island Echo in which Mayor Michael Lilley called on planners to go back to the drawing board on the Pennyfeathers scheme, which he claims is steeped in ‘rumour and secrecy’.
According to Ms Davis, Ryde, the largest town on the Island, has been effectively ‘silenced and disenfranchised’ within the planning committee. However, Councillor Chris Quirk, chairman of the Isle of Wight Planning committee, disagrees:
“The gift of the positions on the planning committee lies with the political group leaders. We did have a Ryde councillor on the committee, Ryde Mayor Cllr Michael Lilley, but he changed political groups and so relinquished his seat”.
Cllr Quirk has said that places on the committee are divided in proportion to the number of seats that the various political groups hold. He adds:
“It also should be remembered that councillors cannot vote on issues where they have an interest or hold a pre-determined position. By convention a local member will either withdraw from the meeting or present as local Member and then take no further part in the debate or vote.
“Other members who have an interest with a local issue or a predetermined position also can’t vote.
Article continues below this advertisement “At the start of consideration of any application before planning committee there is an opportunity for both objectors and supporters to present their views, an opportunity also available to the relevant Town or Parish Council and to the Local Member.”
Ms Davis has noted that there are 4 representatives on the committee for Newport, 2 for Brading, 2 for Shanklin, 1 for Totland and 1 for Fishbourne and Binstead.
Ms Davis says she understands the voting system, but adds:
“Every councillor has a ‘special duty’ to their constituents (after their duty to the Island), so developments will be pushed away from Newport, and Shanklin towards Ryde (and East Cowes).
“A councillor from Newport is unlikely to vote against a development in Ryde if it gets it away from Newport.”
The Ryde Society opposes several applications for around 2,000 houses in and around Ryde.
Just as you say, democracy, in other words you can’t stand up for yourself. Planning on the Island is not even a joke, it is is nothing short of a shambles and is in desperate need of a major sort out. Come the next election the only person that I might, repeat might, vote for is a true Representative. Not any party, not an ‘independant’ just a Representative who will listen, and act on behalf, of those who elected them. On the other hand, pigs are more likely to fly!!
Well said and i agree.
I would also like to add, it appears that certain planning applications get through even though complaints on certain grounds are made …. and yet … other applications are turned down on exactly the same grounds!!!
Just does not make any sense.
If your best friend was around your home and asked to use your toilet, you would happily grant permission. If a total stranger asked to use such, you would rather not allow such. If the total stranger offered a thousand pounds to use such, then likely ‘most’ would be more willing.
No progressive forward thinking planning , no infrastructure support , no employment opportunities, no health facility improvements all overstretched ( try finding a local dentist on the NHS! ), no eco solar power amenities , no facility provision for electric cars ie power source, out-of date designs timber frame and brick ( take a look at recent urban development designs/planning such as in Norfolk ) No local High Street , mainly empty shops !! No fresh food and local produce market, no sports facilities just a defunct ice rink. Really bad local social and drug problems. Not even a deckchair available on the beach in a seaside town ! And how about schooling and kindergarten ? Who the hell is going to buy a home in Ryde ? WAKE UP
Very well said Angry.what a breath of fresh air you would bring to this outdated ,and draconian council. I think you have highlighted everything that the vast majority of us on the Island would want ,and like to see changed and, updated.Good on you ,PS ever thought of standing for election.
Well done Ms Davis for speaking up and highlighting this.
Cllr Quirk you say there is the opportunity for objectors and supporters to have a say. But you didn’t say that your planning committee listens, because if you did, these schemes in Ryde would not get approved. Everyone I speak to believes Ryde is full and doesn’t have adequate infrastructure to support expansion. And the last thing a deprived area needs is more people.
Clap for Bob Seely…80k a year ! to just ignore the people…
It’s not what you know, it’s WHO you know on the Planning Committee!
Ms Davis is correct.
This ‘rubbish’ that whenever there is a conflict of ‘interests’ a council member is asked to leave the room or the ‘vote’, is akin to YOU wanting planning permission for building permission on land you have a ‘vested interest’ in, but as you are on planning, you cannot vote. BUT your best mates on planning can, and will on your behalf.
Any large development should be put to the public vote, as it will sure as hell effect us all, far, far more than any councillor or developer who will ensure they live no where near the misery, crime, congestion and over crowding they happily create for others.
You. Can say that again , money talks
the planning committee should be made to publish the minutes of the meetings on this website, showing why each committee member voted the way they did and their justification for it.
The ultimate decision on building large scale developments should be put to the vote of the people who live in the town concerned – this pennyfeathers debacle is not for islanders and has been advertised as far away as sheffield – so why is it even being considered.
The island cannot support this sort of population increase
Quite agree “bored”, those who receive publicly-tax-sourced “wages” should have public accountability.
I think we can lay the blame firmly at the islands very own comedy duo, councillor stewart and his ever present sidekick bob seely. I’m glad someone had the guts to speak out, let’s hope there are more very soon.
if there is a big pay day at the end of it you have to know the right people,
Been like it for years and will never change .