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.
Why no ice rink?
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.
Ice rink’s future in doubt
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: Issues over drainage
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.
Treatment plant plans not accepted
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.
Council’s rejection
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.
RTC: ‘So far removed from the original application’
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.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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