Around 30 residents against to the proposed onshore elements for the Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre at Flowersbrook turned out on a grey and chilly morning last week to express their opposition to the development.
They’d positioned themselves opposite the site on Steephill Road on Friday morning, in anticipation of members of the Isle of Wight council planning committee taking part in a site visit prior to making a decision on the application at tonight’s (Tuesday) committee meeting.
Missing members
Those who took part in the site visit included chair of the committee, Cllr Baker-Smith as well as Cllrs Eccles, Blezzard, Barry, Hollis, Whitby-Smith and Bloomfield.
Cllrs Howe, Medland, Nicholson and Price were not present on the site visit.
According to the council’s constitution, only members who’ve been present throughout the whole consideration of information gathering can vote on applications.
It reads,
Members can only take informed, objective, decisions when they have received and carefully read all written reports and submissions. They must attend official committee site visits and also carefully listen to all public speaking contributions and to all contributions to the debate from members. Therefore any member who has not been present throughout the whole consideration of an item must not vote. (our emphasis)
Mixed opposition
Residents spearheading the campaign said they’ve collected over 1,700 signatures on a petition from passersby to the site, as well as 400 signatures online.
Some members of the public opposed to the onshore element said they weren’t against the overall scheme for a tidal demonstration site off St Catherine’s point (which the Isle of Wight council has put £1m into), but felt the development would be better suited slightly further down the coast behind the Botanic Garden.
Others were strongly against the entire scheme, on and off shore, citing environmental and visual impact as some of their concerns.
Valid planning objections
As mentioned last week, officers have recommended conditional permission for the application, which attracted 281 objections.
When considering the application tonight, members will have to ensure their decision is based on material planning considerations.
The constitution says,
Local opposition or support for an application is not a ground for making a decision unless that opposition or support is based on material planning considerations.
One objector told OnTheWight that if they plan is approved, the residents intend to fight the decision in court.
Video
This short video explains what was happening at the site on Friday
