Freshwater’s Memorial Hall was packed out on Tuesday evening for an impassioned discussion on a proposed mixed use development.
Spectators and participants were overflowing out of the entrance to Memorial Hall to listen to and contribute to Freshwater Parish Council’s public meeting on the Heathfield Farm Camp Site planning application.
The event consisted mainly of contributions from the floor which were overwhelmingly critical of Stephen Hucklesby’s proposal.
His proposal outlines 69 housing units, retail floorspace, road infrastructure and parking provisions.
The application’s Design and Access statement claims a minimum 35 per cent of the units will be affordable to comply with local planning policy.
Heathfield Farm Camp Site is bordered by Heathfield Road to the east and the A3054 Colwell Road to the north and west.
Attendees raised a wide variety of concerns including whether the proposed housing would be “genuinely affordable”, second home owners buying up the developed units, the erosion of greenfield land and biodiversity, harm to the west of the Island’s tourism industry and a lack of employment opportunities for the development’s residents.
Parish Cllr Daniel James said:
“Where it is a private sector developer they’re obviously going to go for the maximum return on investment.
“So if you want to have more affordable housing then please don’t look to the private sector to do that.”
Cllr James added the housing units were for “whoever pays for them”.
Those who spoke also flagged noise and light pollution, possible “drug and alcohol” anti-social behaviour, the geological suitability of the site, drainage and archaeology as issues.
“The Isle of Wight Council needs to be reminded that Freshwater is a village – it’s just turning into one big urban sprawl”, one resident commented.
In a moment of heightened tensions, a woman questioned the coherence and representativeness of the parish council.
Chair of the meeting and the parish council’s planning committee, Cllr Anne Bamford, interrupted the question and told the woman her question was not relevant.
The woman continued speaking and after being asked to leave was eventually led out of the hall, with Cllr Bamford threatening to call the police.
The parish council is expected to release a statement on the planning issues.
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