It was with great surprise that we read the story last week in the County Press about a pair of Georgian agricultural cottages whose fate currently lies with the Planning Department.
Back in 2000, the owners of the cottage were informed by the Health and Safety Executive that they needed to make safe the dilapidated buildings which date back nearly 200 years.
Being responsible people, they set about doing this task, making sure that the buildings were safe and ensuring the preservation of the last Georgian agricultural cottages on the Wight.
What followed was a game of ping pong with the planning department who initially said ‘ok’ but then changed to ‘you can’t do that and we’re going to demolish the buildings’.
The owners, Brian and Sabrie Harvey called upon the CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) and the CLA (Country Landowners Association),the Kitbridge Trust and the English Heritage and the National Trust. English Heritage and the National Trust recommended refusal the first time round, they haven’t responded to this application yet. CPRE have been very supportive.
The planners claim this building (which as stood on the land for over 200 years) is blot on the landscape and want it demolished. They are also insisting the stone be removed from the site – and according to the background given by the owners, planning say they would rather a new build took it’s place! even though planning have given permission for a livestock/lambing building they still want this one demolished [thanks to Brian for clarification].
You can read the full story of the situation over on a dedicated web page created by the owners.
We understand that there are two sides of every story, but as far as we can see, the arguments to demolish these buildings are without logic.
One of the councils concerns, are that these will be used for holiday lets – if this is the case, then surely they can just add a condition to state that they must only be used as full time homes for farm employees?
If you wish to support the retention of these 200 year old buildings, enabling them to be used as homes for the shepherds, please send your letter of support before the close of business tomorrow via the link below.
Details of the planning application on the Council website and online comments
Dennis Russell from the CPRE has started a discussion over on the forum, please feel free to add your comment.
