Island planning Grand Fromage, Bill Murphy, is due to come along to Ventnor next week, on Monday the 26 November, to discuss with the Ventnor Town Council and those in the public gallery “the principles and concerns of planning.”
The general feeling is that this is a long-awaited visit.
Those who want to ask about your long-held desire to build a copy of the Eiffel Town in your front garden, or say, a massive, over-sized block of flats on the sea front will be disappointed, as he’s not willing to discuss specific applications.
Beyond this, if you’ve got any more general questions about planning for him or the planning department that he heads up, we’d have thought that he would be happy to answer them. He told the Town Council that he’d like to have questions sent to him in advance , so he can work hard at getting the answers prepared.
It’s a great demonstration of democracy and accountability for you.
Given the growing strength of public opinion at the rapid rate of development on the Island, we’re sure you’ll cherish the opportunity.
We’ve got a couple to put into the pot already …
- Planning Enforcement – Where are all of the planning officers that you promised the Island at the Cabinet meeting at the Ventnor Winter Gardens back in March? (We were assured of a answer to the question of how many, would be the right number, eight months ago, but we’re not heard a peep as yet).
- What is the purpose of the Conservation Area? Does it have any effect, or is it just a title? How many planning applications across the whole Island have been refused because they violate the terms of the Conservation Area?
- What actions can be taken against developers who consistently develop well beyond the scope of the planning permission they are granted?
- What are the criteria for deciding if planning permission is decided under delegated powers, away from pubic accountability, rather than under public debate at the planning committee?
- What are you willing to do to protect the fragile beauty of Ventnor against the ravages of over-development?
- How would we instigate protection for the Esplanade to ensure that no development over two floors can occur in the Conservation Area of this historically important Victorian town in the future?
We’re sure that you’ve got a bundle more, oh VB readers, so please make sure you get them in quickly (publicly in the comments below, or privately via email), so we can forward them.
Thanks to Mark Compton-Hall for noting this at the last town council meeting. [image source: FromageBlog]
