The fate of a major Isle of Wight housing development will be decided next week – after a study revealed Curlews were only on-site in low numbers.
The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday (21st March) to discuss the West Acre Park development.
Planning permission had been approved for the 473-home development in July 2021 but not formally issued as legal matters were determined and secured to improve highways and provide affordable housing.
During the negotiations, Natural England raised the point an 11-hectare designated bird habitat site — where Curlew had been spotted and was a feeding ground for migrating birds — had not been considered as part of the plans. A Curlew study has now been undertaken and up to 15 were seen at any one time on the site — which Isle of Wight Council planning officers considered to be a very low level.
Around 77% of the designated site is intended to be a ‘suitable alternative natural green space’, with roads and buildings occupying the other part, but Natural England considers all the land would be lost.
To rectify the matter, a 6.4-hectare greenfield site nearby has been identified to provide an enhanced habitat which would be kept free of activity so the birds would not be disturbed. Officers consider the additional land to be a ‘significant enhancement over and above’ the current site and could encourage more birds to the area.
Another matter which has been altered is the potential impact on human rights as it was argued the development would be detrimental to the family operating Westridge Farm, who would lose their home, employment and income. The family have since surrendered their agricultural tenancy of the farm and has left. This human rights argument was balanced against other planning matters by the committee but officers now say less weight should be given to it as the circumstances have now changed.
Councillors now have 3 options: agree to change the heads of terms, including the extra land for the curlew; ask for alternative mitigation; or reconsider the application in its entirety.
Officers recommend agreeing on the changes as the revised mitigation works are ‘appropriate and acceptable’, which would mean the development could proceed.
West Acre Park and Pennyfeathers is like some sort of straight jacket squeezing the life out of East Ryde. For what is currently an over-crowded and over-stretched second town on the Island I find it a bizarre planning commitment.
Get out of Ryde if you own a home their imo.
It will become an awful place to live as many homes will eventually house those currently in hotels once ‘accpeted’
That or buy stab jackets for your children and rape alarms for the females in your family.
The ruination of Ryde and the knock on effect will destroy the Island culture forever.
Titmarsh’s film crew ‘won’t’ be filming the destruction of countless wildlife, and its food soruces.
Council need to go
straitjacket
This is the same as is the case with Pennyfeathers! Whilst there are brownfield sites like Harcourt Sands & the old Flamingo Park nearby in need of retasking, all green field sites should be protected from development!
Those who know well how to do an odd handshake will never be refused what will enrichen them, now matter what they ruin.
Tickled Pink till their laughing all the way to the overflowing bank
pink and co are just environmental wreckers and I wouldn’t be surprised if they get their comeuppance at some point, by an aggrieved local who takes to direct action.
I’m sure that this development will please Tesco no end – new customers on their doorstep.
As for the rest of the community, those already struggling to get a doctor’s or dentist’s appointment, those that use the local roads – not so pleasing.
15 curlew is not “at a very low level”. The curlew is classified in the UK as Red under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2021). Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. Listed as Near Threatened on the global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
If the council don’t respect the needs of protected wildlife, they should be sacked. They have a responsibility to protect our environment. Get on with it.
I doubt very much if it makes any difference if the Curlew count is fifteen or fifteen hundred as far as the IWCC are concerned. They had absolutely no conscience towards the diabolical treatment of the Holiday family being driven out of their home and lively hood by underhanded bullying tactics. So why should they care about 15 Curlews who, if left undisturbed would eventually increase? And as there are changes to the original planning application, should it not have been put to public consultation??
In all honesty, most people who ‘use’ a Bird, a Reptile, Mammal or rare flora, only do so to try to stop the ruination of their outlook, environment and most would not recognise any of the ‘victims’ they are so quick to defend and only fight it’s corner, if it’s in their back yard.
Sadly developers KNOW the spiel, and just what oppositions will be put forward, and have experts well versed and well paid to counter destroy any such view or ‘evidence’
The truth is millions of tiny lives & animals will be destroyed as will their food sources, breeding areas just to fill the area with those who don’t come from here and oft not even the UK.
The council and its close symbiotic developers are vile but not stupid.
Sadly inevitable.
Sadly so true. but it’s not just about the wild life, It’s also about a hard working farming family forced to leave their home and lively hood in spite of a 3 generation agricultural tenancy. It’s about the destruction of what’s becoming more apparent a much needed productive farm. I’ve lived on this Island for 68 years and I’m now completely sickened by what’s happening, I remember when the Island was nick named “The Garden Isle” and we had a truly honest and genuine MP in the name of Steve Ross.
The fact the farm house is staying and being refurbed and sold on is an absolute joke. Bring the farming family back
Perhaps the individual councillors would like to explain theirselves on why they are hell bent on wrecking the environment -when there are not thousands of islanders cramped in shop doorways, homeless with cash in their pockets, looking for a house.
these councillors must be made to address this – if they won’t when at work then, preferably in their leisure time, when they are in town, doing their own shopping. after all – they are public representatives and accountable to those that elected them.
I would imagine that too much money has changed hands already to stop the tide. Could some right-minded people please stand for IWCC in the next council elections and replace this dodgy bunch. We need an alternative to the mainstream party vote based on honesty and integrity. No masons thanks.
The only viable option is to re-consider the whole thing and reject it. The Island cannot support it’s present population, all the essential services are at breaking point, none more so than healthcare. The road system, water supply, sewage containment are all at maximum ‘capacity’.
The situation cannot be resolved by local the council, they are just being led by the nose, or by an inspector in Bristol, the developments have to be stopped by central government understanding and accepting the limitations of the Island. ( Over to Bob !!!! )
The planning committee sure want to ruin the island !!!!!
How on earth will our infrastructure cope with all these extra homes???,,,????…
Totally ridiculous, do they care ???? (NO )….
Their pension pot’s will benefit, all that extra council tax !!!!!
The concrete jungle jigsaw is definitely getting bigger, but services getting smaller !!!!
Unfortunately our shrinking infrastructure is of absolute no concern to our not so wonderful Council, neither the Island residents who are going to be affected by all this destruction.
Your right, the only ones to benefit is the Council and of course their best friends the developers
I see “6.4-hectare greenfield site nearby has been identified to provide an enhanced habitat which would be kept free of activity so the birds would not be disturbed.” Amazing how more land has been found and I am sure the wildlife can be directed there??? But give it another couple of years and I am sure Captiva Homes will get planning permission to build another load of houses on that site too that are not needed watch this space!
In with the Weavers who are also highly involved in the art of curious hand shakers. Hence no more social housing in Bembridge as both chums reside there
Bears and stone masons (without stone) never mess in their own wood
Follow the money! Curlews would never have had any currency in this game.
I bet the eco consultant is driving a new BMW.
Nothing here but magpies and rats . Swiss Bank account please Mr Developer.
With the proposed closure of smallbrook lane as part of the pennyfeathers development alongside this development Ryde will be gridlock for years with lorries and construction vehicles and this will affect the whole of Ryde as the only realistic way in will be via Binstead Road. Tourist will go elsewhere to avoid the chaos and Ryde will deteriorate as a result. Well done IOW council you have been shortsighted as always and one major road incident, or flooding in Binstead as happened a couple of years back will mean Ryde will be inaccessible
Penny Feathers and West Acre are both a crock of shit. The island is slowly being ruined. And that’s a fact. The people that reside on this island do not want these urban sprawls, rabbit hutches housing God knows who. The poor island and it’s services are struggling now, with these developments being built it just won’t be the same and not for the better! What is wrong with these bloody Councillors….it’s because they don’t care for what is best for the entire island culture.