I was astonished to read the following in the County Press today ….
Members of the IW Council’s development control committee, who met last week, approved the change of use for 15 High Street after noting a previous inspector’s decision on a proposal for an amusement centre at 9/13 Pier Street that a blanket ban of such uses in conservation areas could not be justified.
The applicant, David Peckitt, who has been in the arcade centre for seven years, told the meeting he would keep the Victorian appearance while the shop front would be used for retail display purposes for local charitable bodies.
The application attracted five letters of complaint, as well as an objection from the manager of NatWest Bank and Ventnor Town Council, which said it was unsuitable development for the area. Cllr Muriel Miller said she felt the town centre was inappropriate. Ryde councillors Henry Adams and Arthur Taylor said they had one in their town centre, which caused no problems at all.
“If there is no objection from the police community support officer, I will go along with it,” said Cllr Adams.
Given that an identical application for premises across the road was refused earlier in the year, I’m baffled as to how the Development Control Committee considered this to be appropriate for Ventnor.
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