The petition to save Westridge Farm was presented to the Isle of Wight Council yesterday (Tuesday) after notching up more than 4,200 signatures.
Archie Holliday, aged 9, the son of current Westridge Farm tenant farmer Nigel, wrote to Cllr Michael Lilley, his local ward representative, asking him to present the petition to the planning committee as his home may be in jeopardy.
The land belonging to Westridge Farm is subject to an application which could see 475 houses, some affordable, being built into a new housing estate called West Acre Park, by Island developers Captiva Homes.
Cllr Michael Lilley was arguing to stop the development on behalf of Archie, and his sister Poppy, who under the current agricultural tenancy agreement “have a legal right” to inherit the farm and continuing the family tradition as adults if they wish. He said: “This is their human rights.”
In Archie’s letter to Cllr Lilley, he said:
“I want to be a farmer when I grow up like my dad, my grandad and great-grandad at Westridge Farm.
“The landlord and developers want to build all these houses which will ruin the farm forever. I do not understand why houses can be built on land that is being used.”
Cllr Lilley went on to say the farm hands down skills over generations, ensuring guardianship of the environment.
He said:
“It is a way of Island life which connects family and community. Archie is asking you to listen to him and the other petitioners in preserving his human rights and the rights of Ryde and Isle of Wight residents to preserve this farm, providing local food security for future generations.
“Archie and Poppy at their age, in a pandemic and the trauma the generation is experiencing should not be worried about whether they will have a home or future in 2021 at Christmas time.
“Please listen to them and consider their future. Once built on it will be lost forever, Archie’s dream will be lost forever.”
The petition was allowed to be heard at the committee, in a ‘one-off’ by the chair Cllr Chris Quirk as the issue is ‘important and emotive’.
Committee members were not allowed to discuss the petition as it was likely to put them in either a supportive or opposition position before the application came before the committee for determination.
Cllr Richard Hollis, however, left the meeting after complaining the petition was a form of lobbying and ‘totally inappropriate’ to be presented as it related to a live application.
He said:
“This is not the forum and it is trying to sway the judgement of the committee and that is absolutely wrong.”
The petition was noted and formally received by the council and it was resolved that the planning officers would consider any material planning considerations raised before making their recommendation for the committee to determine.
Comments on the application have now closed and a decision is likely to be made by the ommittee next year.
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