Freshwater Residents Lash Out At Birch Close Development Yellow Line Delay

Freshwater residents have been making a last-ditch attempt to halt the latest iteration of the Birch Close housing development struggle.

Since the beginning of the month, residents have submitted 12 comments objecting to Journey Estates Ltd’s application to start developing land to the east of Birch Close without double yellow lines first being in place – a variation of a planning condition previously imposed by the Isle of Wight Council.

The development company wants to have yellow lines in place before its permitted 44 homes have been occupied instead of before development work on the site begins.

The Isle of Wight Council received Journey Estates Ltd’s application on August 14.

In a Highways Representation for Island Roads, Neil Troughton, development control manager, did not raise an objection to the company’s application

The document stated that the need to install yellow lines was based on an “uplift” in “daily traffic movements” as a result of the development.

It added that any harm caused by increased traffic would only result after the homes are occupied.

Island Roads gave the following condition:

“No dwelling hereby permitted shall be occupied until a Traffic Regulation Order has been secured from the Local Highway Authority and implemented for double yellow lines on the southern side of Birch Close about its junction with the site access and its junction with Colwell Road and on Colwell Road about its junction with Birch Close.”

Journey Estates Ltd’s application is supported by a technical note from transport and development planning consultants Evoke.

Evoke’s document said a temporary traffic regulation order to restrict parking could allow “safe and suitable” access to Birch Close during the housing development’s construction.

Birch Close resident Andrew Hastings said:

“I strongly object to the proposed variation of condition 11. This condition was imposed after scrutiny by the planning committee, for valid reasons, which have not changed.

“The volume of traffic servicing the building of a major development such as this, will have equal impact on Birch Close and Colwell Road, to that generated by the finished development. Workers travelling to and from the site morning, lunchtime, and evening.

“Delivery of equipment and materials by heavy goods vehicles. This usually happens from early morning throughout the day.

“It is normal practice for delivery drivers that they be paid per load, this means that they are incentivised to deliver and turn around as quickly as possible.

“This could cause serious road safety issues which can only be addressed by implementing the strictest measures of control.”

Mike Briscoe, another Freshwater resident, said:

“Development should not proceed prior to complying with the traffic regulation order for the following reasons.

“The original condition, (double yellow lines), was put in place when permission was granted to ensure road safety, both during the development phase and the subsequent occupation of the new properties.

“Without this original TRO in place during the construction phase, the greatly increased traffic flow will make accessing the site very dangerous.

“The application to vary the condition 11 to allow development to take place, is a blatant attempt by the developers to circumnavigate the requirement necessary to ensure the safety of all road users.”

The deadline for submitting public comments to the council on Journey Estates Ltd’s application is Monday, September 16.