Billed as being vital to the East Cowes Regeneration, Isle of Wight residents can now view Red Funnel’s “Plan B” proposals for their ferry terminal expansion in East Cowes.
The plans went live on the Isle of Wight council’s planning Website on Friday and residents have until 21st October to make their views known.
Plan A rejected
Red Funnel’s first planning application was rejected by the Planning Committee on 12th April 2016.
Plan B sees Red Funnel apply for an interim scheme, whilst appealing the rejection made by the Isle of Wight council in April. They say the interim scheme “would not prejudice the future implementation of the original proposals” should the decision be overturned by the Planning Inspectorate.
Five principles
Following the rejection, the company met with a number of stakeholders (local businesses, Dover Road residents, East Cowes Business Association and Forum, East Cowes Heritage Society, the Town Council and more), which they say resulted in the following five core principles being determined.
- Traffic congestion within East Cowes has to be addressed by a long term solution
- Red Funnel requires a larger marshalling yard in order to meet the current periods of peak demand and to future proof the business
- The application has to be aligned to the principles of the original East Cowes Masterplan and the VQEL proposals in the long term
- East Cowes requires regeneration
- There are several sites, Kingston Marine Park, capable of relocating all (and many more) of the current marine businesses within the area
The document also states that “marine businesses happy to move to Kingston Marine Park (KMP), as long as it is a seamless move”.
The proposals
There are a large number of documents to work through, but a good place to start if you’re intending to inform yourself is the Planning Statement (the document at the bottom of the list).
Under the interim scheme, several buildings would be demolished, including a currently unused industrial unit (the Redux Shed located behind the Dover Road properties), along with Trinity House buildings, which will be used to expand the existing marshalling area of Trinity Yard.
Storage of dropped trailers and staff car parking will take place at Seaholme Yard and the proposals also include a bridge across a section of the River Medina and the “stopping up” of the Dover Road Slipway and public footpath to the west of Trinity Yard.
Have your say
Find out more and have your say through their Planning Website.
Image: © Savills
