Plans for tennis courts in Smallbrook — in place of an ice rink — have been thrown out by the Isle of Wight Council.
In a bid to build something at the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre (SILC) site – next to the Island Speedway stadium – tennis courts and shelters were proposed, as the first phase of development.
In the applications to the Isle of Wight Council, there was no mention of the highly-anticipated ice rink, which was one of the main reasons why the development was given the go-ahead.
Planning permission for the major facility was granted in December 2019 after the council’s planning committee was persuaded to go against officers’ recommendations to refuse the scheme. The indoor sports centre was approved to have an ice rink, multi-use courts, climbing wall, trampoline area and tennis courts.
Now, the latest application for the site has put the ice rink’s future in doubt.
SILC had been reluctant to confirm whether or not the ice rink will actually go ahead, instead saying drainage restrictions are causing issues for the potential continual disposal of ice.
An original condition of permission to build the leisure centre and rink was that no development could take place until a foul water drainage and disposal scheme had been approved and installed.
The spokesperson said they had been hoping to get a treatment plant but their application was not accepted, so were ‘at least trying’ to vary the conditions of the application to build the tennis and multicourts.
Now, the Isle of Wight Council has refused the latest application for the site — despite materials being on-site — as what has been proposed through the condition variation would not be in agreement with the design and scale of the building approved in the original consent.
It said what was proposed could not be dealt with through that specific type of planning application. The application also lacked information about parking.
Ryde Town Council had commented on the application saying it was ‘so far removed from the original application’ a new application should be submitted but it could ‘open the floodgates’ for other revised proposals on the site.
Speaking about the other proposed facilities at the centre, SILC’s spokesperson said they had not made any decision for the other sporting facilities, like the climbing wall.
despite materials being on-site yes but they are the wrong materials the Council want bricks and mortars and roofs and more money coming in for there pension pot they dont give a f–k about what we the taxpayers want.
how can they say drainage issues are the reason, when the council had no problem approving 473 homes nearly next door….this is clearly a pack of lies, designed to remove the bits they never intended to do, despite saying they would to get it approved
Council should be saying….it was in the original specification that was approved, implement it or leave the site immediately.
Not forgetting Pennyfeathers 904 houses, and the Nicholson rd industrial estate developments
This shows how the planning works or doesn’t.
They refuse small scale less harmful applications, yet let through any large scale fully destructive building applications.
The public then feel this is due to the fact that large scale building creates life changing sums of money for all involved, and can’t help wondering how much of this is offered to ‘those who matter’ in easing the applications to approval.
Where else can large sums of cash be easily made by just signing the approval. Then hundreds of millions of pounds are created by legally truning Cow dung fields into homes worth 1/4m minimum, each, and craming to the max
Planning are in one of the most trustworthy positions ever.
Where else can millions of pounds legally be created, just by signing an application to turn Cow dung splattered fields into tiny boxes worth 1/4 m minimum, and then cram them to the max.
With such massive life changing sums of cash for developers, then, of course the public don’t trust the process all being fully ‘above board’
So, when planning turn down smaller, seemingly less destructive applications, yet allow, in the same lane huge destructive projects, who can blame the public for being suss?
Developers must be tickled Pink by it all
Would of thought an indoor tennis and multi-courts centre would be welcomed over here, especially for kids.
And what is so wrong about revising proposals, at least it’s before the horse has bolted from its (extended) stable.
much like the old floating bridge we already had, we also have an ice rink but the council choose to abandon them in favour of unicorns..please fix the ice rink that we already have rather than talk about another nearby, or a really decent swimming pool with a diving pool, something real not this hot air virtue signaling about a non starter ice rink idea, if the drainage system has been rejected then its not a suitable site for an ice rink, just fix the old one and stop messing everyone around..
Probably not crossing their palm’s with brown envelopes !!!!!
Do they know there is a shortage???
Due to the amount used in all the recent successful applications on the island !!!!!!!!
Build a rabbit/guinea pig hutch …
Yes yes yes ….
Ooh Tennis court’s no money in that for us No no no.
There never was going to be a replacement ice rink, all the developers want is maximum profit with minimal outlay and the running costs of a rink reduces their profits.
For once I am glad that the council have taken this position. If a company proposes numerous facilities just to get planning approval and then say that they are only going to do half what they said they would do, because they had no intention of doing it all in the first place, they should be refused. Build it all or go away. It would however be useful if the council would reinstate the original rink instead of leaving it a derelict eyesore.
All the more reason to back the Save Westridge Farm Campaign. It’s not just about the land, but also a fight for democracy. It’s high time we all start standing up to this corrupt council and their developer friends.
Vote tong, vote ting, ting tong.
I’ll vote for you ting.
We need a major coup or revolution !
Give it a year and there’ll be another major housing estate approved, but don’t worry because they’ll also bulldoze another food producing farm and ‘re-wild’ it to make up for all the extra concrete they’ll be pouring
More NIMBY attitudes killing island business and preventing growth. Get ready for far more people on benefits and all the drug abuse that breads. I guess these NIMBY lot wish to turn the island into the south’s Clydeside.
well of cause
they turned it down. They can put 50+ houses on there