A packed meeting of the Niton and Whitwell Parish Council came out against plans to build 54 houses on a greenfield.
The planning committee of the parish council unanimously voted to object to the application, submitted by Tallulah Estates, for the village’s Ladyacre Farm.
The landowner, who spoke at the meeting, said they were developing the land to use the money to make improvements to the farm which would benefit their children and grandchildren.
“New housing would bring drug and alcohol abuse to the area”
One disgruntled resident, who believed their health had improved immensely since moving to Niton, said the new housing would bring drug and alcohol abuse to the area.
Another said they had dodged a bullet with the flooding in the last few weeks and that the village would have to be very careful if they wanted to keep avoiding the issues seen not too far away in Ventnor.
National Planning Framework
With the Isle of Wight Council planning department currently under the presumption in favour of sustainable development, members of the public had expressed concerns about whether there would even be a point to objecting.
Logan: Propose a suitable alternative
Cllr Ali Logan said the council had grounds to refuse the development, but suggested the parish council looked into proposing a suitable alternative by way of a community land trust or community benefit society.
Cllr Logan said if the parish council were to borrow money to build houses, they could control who lived there and rent them out to local families, and also build what was suggested in their local housing plan.
Reflecting the views of residents
Cllr Jon Boileau Goad said houses should be built, but these plans should be rejected, allowing them to reflect on what they did want.
Cllr Tim Addison reflected the views of many residents at the meeting when he said Niton’s infrastructure is ‘at best clearly fragile and at capacity’.
He said the village had once been known as a sustainable rural hub, but he could not see how, with the closure of Undercliff Drive, they could call it a hub anymore.
Flooding concerns
Mentioning the likelihood of flooding, and a lack of evidence in the plans to see how the drainage would be properly managed, Cllr Addison said the field had been used to grow watercress in the past, which was indicative of the site now.
A resident of Pan Lane, which the farm is on, said it was a faulty application as it was near a water course, with a spring in the field, continuing under properties and into the Eastern Yar.
The resident said the small pump that is proposed to combat the issue would not cope.
Other objections
Other issues to be used in the council’s objection, include the lack of parking and narrow pedestrian access, lack of lighting and no wheelchair access.
The Island’s MP Bob Seely was at the meeting and explained to residents the flaws with the current planning procedures and ways he and the Isle of Wight Council were trying to fight the national policies.
Ward councillor remained neutral
Isle of Wight Council representative for Chale, Niton and Shorwell, Cllr Claire Critchison, was at the meeting but remained neutral with the hope to speak at the IWC’s planning committee meeting when the application is decided.
Comments on the planning application, 21/00793/OUT, can be submitted until Friday, 6th August.
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
