Ventnor Town Council has ‘strongly objected’ to residential lodges which could be built near the cliff edge in Bonchurch.
Councillors agreed yesterday (Tuesday), any developer would be ‘crazy’ to take on the project which could see four single-storey homes built at Riviera Park, the former Westfield Holiday Centre, near the Shore Road car park.
Submitted before landslide
The plans were submitted at the end of November, just days before a major landslip in the village, which has seen residents evacuated from their houses, businesses affected and the main route from Ventnor to Shanklin shut.
The proposals have been met with local outcry, with residents saying that the area of coast has also had minor cliff falls within the past two months.
Plans branded as ‘ridiculous’
Speaking yesterday, Councillor James Toogood joined residents saying with the current movement in Ventnor, “any engineer would be a mad man to put their hat to it” and branded the plans as ‘ridiculous’.
He said,
“The [potential ground] disturbance would be phenomenal, it is too dangerous.”
Warren: Serious concerns
Councillor Phil Warren, chair of the committee, determined the town council had “serious concerns about the development which was very close to the cliff edge” and wished to strongly object based on the recent ground instability.
Councillor Warren also highlighted planning documents submitted by the developers relating to the ground stability in the area were “seriously outdated”, as they were compiled in 2015.
Concerns raised by residents
Speaking at the meeting, residents also raised concerns about the impact the lodges would have on the local wildlife, a lack of bin bays and that the park was already overcrowded.
One said the buildings proposed are “ugly, cheap looking and out of character in the neighbourhood” and the “eyesores” would be seen from any coastal view in the Bonchurch area.
Part of previously-approved consent
The plans have been put forward by Bembridge company Island Escapes, which says in documents the construction of the four lodges has been previously approved in part under consent from 2017.
The single-storey lodges are proposed for residential use and could have two bedrooms, separate shower and bathrooms and an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area.
View the plans
You can view the plans, 23/02114/FUL, on the Isle of Wight council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 17th January 2024.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
