As reported previously on VB; residents of East Cowes attended a meeting last night to contest plans to build an asphalt plant on the banks of the River Medina.
More than 50 people turned up to put forward their concerns about the plant, which is scheduled to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 30 weeks a year. Not one person in East Cowes Town Hall was attending in favour of the plans, meaning there was a unanimous vote against the plant.
Attempting an extension
East Cowes town Council urged every member of the South Cowes ward to write to Cllr Edward Giles stating their concerns about the plant.
Residents have until Friday 18th May to contact the councillor; but the Town Council are attempting to extend the deadline for a decision for another two months.
Cabinet member absent
Cllr Edward Giles was not able to attend the meeting and did not give a reason for his absence.
Although he wrote an email explaining that he had written to Head of planning and regulatory services, Bill Murphy, asking for letters to be accepted past the May 18th deadline.
A representative from both the Council planning department and Eurovia (the applicant) were invited to the meeting but were unable to attend. MP Andrew Turner was in attendance and he reiterated the importance of sending comments to Cllr Giles.
Community spirit
The meeting produced a strong community spirit with several residents staying behind afterwards to chat and share ideas.
87 year old Mary Saunders, of Kingston Road, said she “wasn’t given any notice of the proposals until three days ago. The first thing I did was go to the estate agents and ask how much my house would be worth. He told me he wouldn’t be able to sell it with an asphalt plant so close.”
Town councillor Robert Hooper said, “We must resist it totally. If we get this built the seaweed will smell like Chanel No5.”
East Cowes town Council are asking for an environmental report to be written, at the cost of the applicant.
Image: Simon Haytack under CC BY 2.0
