Plans for another major development in Gunville have been deferred following concerns over pedestrian safety and highway improvements.
The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee last night (Tuesday) paused the decision on outline plans for more than a hundred homes on Gunville Road near to the former Friends of the Animals Charity Shop.
All other details of the scheme, including layout, scale and appearance, would be determined at a later date.
Recommended for conditional approval
The plans were recommended for conditional approval by planning officers but with insufficient information to advise councillors, officers suggested the application be deferred so they could find the answers.
One of the committee’s issues was with highway improvements and members wondered whether it would be reasonable to secure financial contributions from every developer that puts an application forward in Gunville to address the traffic issues.
Mini roundabout will exceed capacity
Part of the reason two other developments for housing in the area were recently rejected was data showing the mini-roundabout at the top of Carisbrooke High Street, will exceed capacity by 2025, even without new housing built.
Councillors suggested opening Taylor Road, connecting Gunville to Carisbrooke and Newport via Wellington Road, cutting out the roundabout.
‘Sustainable transport contribution’
A ‘sustainable transport contribution’ of £45,000 would be provided if the application is approved, to offset any negative traffic impacts.
This was earmarked to go towards the Gunville to West Wight cycle track and either the installation of a multi-use pathway or surfacing the existing public right of way.
Officers said this would help people use alternative means of transport, but councillors asked if that money could be used in other ways.
Proposed changes to Gunville Road
There were proposed changes to the layout of Gunville Road, where, if the scheme was approved, the priority flow system would be removed and replaced by a zebra crossing.
Cllr Matt Price asked if a controlled pedestrian crossing with a raised bump could be looked at as it would be a significant safety improvement and slow down traffic.
Members asked whether safe cycling provision along Gunville Road could be examined.
Isle of Wight Council strategic manager for planning, Ollie Boulter, said they were issues the officers had not been able to answer that would have helped councillors in their decision.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
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