Readers may remember that a concerned resident on the Isle of Wight had lodged an appeal with the Secretary of State, calling on them to insist an Environmental Impact Assessment be carried out prior to any decision-making on the proposal for an Asphalt Plant at Medina Wharf.
This was mentioned by Eurovia at last week’s public meeting.
VB has been informed this afternoon that the Secretary of State has decided that an EIA is not necessary for this proposal.
This news will come as a blow to many opposed to the plant, but members of the WRAP Group say the decision strengthens their resolve to continue fighting the application to build an Asphalt Plant on the River Medina.
Decision not unexpected
Julia Hill from Wight Residents Against Asphalt Plant (WRAP) told us, “The decision by DCLG is not that unexpected, having regard to the very narrow wording of the regulations governing their decision. It is emphasised that this ruling relates to the Council’s Screening Opinion made as long ago as early March as to whether an Environmental Statement under these narrow regulations was necessary, before any planning application was submitted.
“That Opinion was the initial part of a very long process leading eventually to the determination of the planning application.”
Decision on a very narrow basis
She went on to say, “It should be borne in mind, as stated by DCLG, that the Government’s opinion on the likelihood of the proposed development having significant environmental effects was made only for the purposes of its decision on the matter of the Council’s Screening Opinion. In other words, its decision was on a very narrow basis.
“It should be pointed out that DCLG seem to have accepted at face value information provided by the applicant and its consultants, information which was so defective that the Council had to send an eight page letter and later two further communications to the applicant seeking extra environmental information, at least two months ago. Very little information has been received by the Council in any response. It would have been better if DCLG had been able to make its decision after considering that information rather than before its receipt.”
Strengthened our resolve
Julia finished by saying, “The decision by DCLG has in fact strengthened the resolve of WRAP to continue to oppose this proposed development, which is totally inappropriate for the River Medina and also unnecessary having regard to the proposals submitted for a replacement asphalt plant at Blackwater, in a location ideally centrally placed for the Island’s highway network and where asphalt has been made for at least 25 years without any real problems.”
