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This Open Letter to leader of Isle of Wight council, Phil Jordan. Ed
Why may I ask have you broken your election manifesto to protect the green-fields of Ryde?
In a press release on Wednesday 17th May 2021 you are quoted as saying,
“I have consistently stated that the infrastructure and roads are incapable of withstanding the increased effects of huge housing developments in Ryde. We are sleepwalking into a nightmare scenario where endless traffic jams and simply nowhere to park vehicles is becoming a reality. Finding a doctor or a dentist is already extremely difficult and we know our hospital is unable to cope with patients being sent across the Solent already in increasing numbers. It has to stop now. Tomorrow is too late we must put a moratorium on large scale developments in Ryde immediately”
Since being elected in 2021, however, you, and your cabinet have fought relentlessly to push through an Isle of Wight Planning Strategy which supports a further 485 houses to be built in the area that you pledged to protect. This is in addition to almost 1,000 houses which already have planning consent, including the controversial Westridge Farm which is subject to Judicial Review.
Amendment to the Draft Planning Strategy
At Cabinet on 14th March this year you stated in public that you wanted planning committee to be the decision maker regarding allocated sites.
Behind the scenes, however, you fought me ‘hammer and tongs’ from carrying out the necessary amendment to the Draft Planning Strategy.
“You should not be blindly led by staff”
I found your subsequent assertion that you did not understand the meaning of para 6.15 of the strategy and you were obliged, therefore, to follow the advice of staff to be alarming. You are the Leader of this council and should not be blindly led by staff. Councillors and not staff are elected to take decisions.
When you realised that you would lose the vote at full Council last Wednesday you changed your mind once more, and agreed to support, and vote for, my amendment of para 6.15.
Amendment not agreed!
Two days later, however, I received an email from a member of staff stating that my amendment is not agreed and will be subject to further consideration by you and your cabinet!
Is this a further example of you going back on you word or will you be blaming staff?
