Residents call on Planning Committee to 'Save Arreton Village'

‘Conditional Permission’ is being recommended by Isle of Wight council planning officers for development of 40 dwellings on the outskirts of Arreton village.

The AONB Partnership and English Heritage had no comment to make on the application, but Arreton Parish Council, the Badger Trust, CPRE, Island Watch and residents registered their concerns about the development, arguing that it’s inappropriate for the village and represents an ‘overdevelopment of a greenfield site’ in a rural area.

Revised application
The revised application previously sought permission for 89 dwellings, but this was refused by the Isle of Wight council in September 2013.

Residents who have been in touch with OnTheWight say,

“The planning department have totally disregarded 129 objections.
“Residents and public bodies have all been dismissed. This planning application is on Greenfield land outside of the village settlement. Arreton village has only 154 houses.”

They say the addition of another 40 dwellings – increasing it by nearly 30% – will “destroy the village”.

Voted for openness and transparency
Residents say the village and the Island voted last May for an Independent Council, “for a change, for openness and transparency”.

They add,

“The Council now needs to put the planning department in order. We need to protect our Island and give our children and grandchildren a lovely place to grow.”

The Committee
The Planning Committee meet on Tuesday 29th April at 4pm to consider the application. The Committee is made up of the following members:

Cllrs Paul Fuller (Ind Chairman), Julia Baker-Smith (Ind), Reg Barry (LibDem), Bob Blezzard (Ind), Raymond Bloomfield (Con), David Eccles (Con), Richard Hollis (Con), John Howe (Ind), John Nicholson (Con), Matthew Price (Con) and Roger Whitby-Smith (Ind).

The residents finish by saying,