Newport and Carisbrooke Community Councillor and Chair of the Isle of Wight Green Party, Vix Lowthion, shares this opinion piece ahead of today’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet Meeting on Thursday. In her own words. Ed
Campaigns against planning proposals for significant housing sites often get a good hearing in the local media: in recent years we have heard a lot about residents fighting against new housing sites in Ryde, Bembridge and in the West Wight.
Only this week, the Conservative group leader, Joe Robertson, has widely shared his proposals to block building of houses in these areas – by shifting all the building sites to our county town of Newport (see section 7.5, p24 of document embedded at the bottom).
The voice of Newport residents has not been heard
As a Newport resident, community councillor and chair of our planning committee, I am concerned that the voice of Newport residents has not been heard or even invited to be heard in this debate.
Here are a number of reasons why this proposal is not the solution to the climate and the housing crisis, and should not be included in the Draft Island Planning Strategy coming to council later this month.
11 housing sites already allocated
Newport already has 11 allocated housing sites in the draft IPS – and six of these are greenfield sites in the west and north of the town.
Our doctor’s surgery, schools, roads and other infrastructure and public services are already struggling to meet demand.
Allocations should be shared across the Island
It is not sustainable to shift even more housing allocation to Newport by arguing that the infrastructure isn’t there in the villages.
Sustainable, equitable and fair planning means that allocations should be shared across the Island to avoid huge pressure on services in one place.
The needs of Newport
Newport may have brownfield sites, but Newport also needs a new GP practice to be built on a brownfield site, and as our county town needs to retain our position as the centre of decision making for the council. Newport is not only a space for houses, but retail, services and democracy too.
Villages need families
There are plenty of families living in villages in Bembridge and West Wight who would love to stay there and bring up their children, but there isn’t suitable or affordable housing for them. Subsequently, the schools, shops and leisure facilities have fewer younger people to draw upon.
We have already seen a primary school close in West Wight, and potentially another one to come, due to a shift in demographics. West and East Wight residents need homes and services too!
Conservative plans
The Conservatives are proposing an increase in the number of houses expected to be built in Newport, at Camp Hill, Newport Harbour and a new site, Newport Riverside (County Hall, the police station and the currently empty area at the bottom of Pyle Street).
These are not exclusively brownfield sites which are free to be subject to high density building! I challenge Joe Robertson to visit Camp Hill and see the fields, forest and trees which make up this site, and tell Newport residents that they should be happy to give this up so that people in Freshwater and Bembridge can block houses being built in their villages.
Consideration of wildlife and public space for residents
Likewise, building at Newport Harbour and Riverside must allow for space for our riverside wildlife to remain, and for public space for residents and visitors to enjoy along the riverbank.
Our Island biosphere status means we need wildlife corridors and space for plants and animals, even in our urban areas. Newport deserves green spaces too!
We are not Joe Robertson’s monopoly board
It is disappointing to see the Conservatives make promises to people in the West and East Wight by their proposals to put the extra burden of housing on Newport, and even worse that they haven’t even asked Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council what they think about their plans.
I can tell you that Newport has a voice, that we are not Joe Robertson’s monopoly board, and we will not accept a disproportionate increase in housing which will negatively impact our green spaces, our public services and our sustainability as a town.
