An online petition protesting at a proposed housing development in the outskirts of Ryde is gathering momentum.
The campaign opposes the proposed Pennyfeathers development of a minimum of 1,400 accommodation units (houses and flats) in the ‘green corridor’ of Ryde which is between Westridge Garage and Busy Bee down to Smallbrook.
The campaigners say, “Our countryside is being lost at an alarming rate due to this insatiable urge by local authorities to cover large parts of it with inappropriately placed and poorly designed housing developments containing large numbers of ‘profit boxes’.”
“Irresponsible large scale developments”
They go on to say, “If we value Ryde and our Island, we cannot sit back and let these housing developments happen. Every field, every meadow, every green corridor and wildlife habitat that disappears as a result of these developments is lost forever and future generations are the poorer for it.
“The Ryde Against Pennyfeathers (RAP) protest group wish to stop these irresponsible large scale developments. By so doing, it may make those in local government understand that there are limits to growth, otherwise our Island in general and Ryde in particular, is heading for environmental disaster.”
New homes bonus
Back in 2011, housing minister Grant Shapps announced the New Home Bonus scheme aimed at encouraging housebuilding.
The idea is that the Government provides financial incentives to local councils adding hundreds of thousands of pounds to their income.
The scheme works by councils receiving payment equivalent to council tax for an average Band D per property (approx £1,438). So for example, if the council agreed to 100 new houses being built they would receive £862,800 of extra central Government funding over six years.
Online petition against development
Campaigners are urging those concerned about the development to sign an online petition.
We, the undersigned, call on the Isle of Wight council to deny planning approval for the development proposed for the Prestwood Farm site, known as “Pennyfeathers”.
So far it has gathered 43 signatures (at time of publishing) with those opposed coming from around the Island and not just Ryde.
See the official website, Ryde Against Pennyfeathers, for further details.
The online Petition.
