Ventnor Blog

Despite saying otherwise on the Ventnor Town Council Website, we hear that the Planning Meeting scheduled for tonight at 6.30pm has been postponed.

We’re not sure of the reason why, but if you were planning to head down there tonight, pop your slippers back on and find something else to do.

For those with an interest in discussions held at the Town Council meetings, you’ll be keen to hear that next Monday, 8th September, Leader of the Council David Pugh will be attending to answer questions from the Ventnor Town Councillors and public.

We know that lots of you have an interesting in planning on the Island, so here’s the latest on St Joseph’s in Ventnor - Ed.

It was with great joy on Friday morning, that we received a letter from the Planning Inspectorate stating that they were refusing Michael Jennings’ appeal to use an unauthorised roof terrace at St Joseph’s, Ventnor.

As VB readers will know, the original planning permission stated that the flat roof could not be used as a garden space. Next Jennings put in an application to use it, which was refused by the case officer with the condition attached that the area should be filled in, so that it could not be used in the future.

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There are smiles around some of the residents of Freshwater this morning.

They’ve heard that the appeal by the developers of Hazelhurst in Freshwater has been rejected by the planning inspectorate.

The appeal was against the original planning application for the site, containing 11 flats and two town houses. The application that was originally rejected by the IW Council planning committee.

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As we reported on Monday, twenty or so local residents gathered opposite the Hazelhurst property in Freshwater to show their objection to the Ombudsman, as he made a site visit.

After waiting for some time for the architect to turn up, the Ombudsman came and spoke to the residents to advise that he would be carrying out a site visit. He stated that he had read all objections to the application and would be taking those into account.

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A group of around 20 members of the public stood opposite Hazelhurst in Freshwater this morning, peacefully donning placards as the Planning Ombudsman carried out a site visit.

Owners of the property, Mr and Mrs Knight claimed that they knew nothing of the visit and only realised something was up when Mr Knight noticed a group of people assembling on the other side of the road.

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When Wootton-based chartered surveyors and estate agents, Christopher Scott took over management of the development at St Joseph’s in Ventnor, we let out a huge sigh of relief.

Finally, we thought, a professional outfit is getting involved to make sure that the development is finished off to a high standard and the promise of luxury dwellings might actually come true.

Actions since then are leading us to challenge our assumptions.

As we’ve pointed out on VentnorBlog previously, from what we saw of the treatment to part of the front boundary wall, they started off doing a smashing job.

Work Delayed
It’s unfortunate, that work is still continuing — well beyond what Christopher Scott had originally predicted — by several months, but then they did have a great deal to get sorted. We had heard from the planning office that the gas pipes installed by Michael Jennings’ workmen were originally being held together with mastic, unapproved electrics had been installed, etc … we could go on and on and on.

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We were really shocked to hear this morning, that the Planning Committee yesterday decided to refuse an application by the owners of Vintage Vacations (a couple responsible for masses of very positive free publicity for the Isle of Wight in the press) for a permanent site in Hillis Gate Road, Northwood. Helen Cunningham exclusively gives us below her response to the outcome. Ed

After a four year search and six alternative sites having been discussed at the planning office, our planning application for a seasonal site for ten of our Vintage Airstream caravans was refused at yesterday’s planning committee meeting.

One goes into a planning application knowing that there may be various scenarios at the end of it. What isn’t to be expected, is that despite our plans carefully addressing all relevant issues, officers recommendation for approval and comment from the planning policy team stating that a scheme such as ours is appropriate for, and to be encouraged on the Hillis Gate site, points raised for discussion by those committee members that bothered to comment, ranged from laughably lame to shocking attempts to undermine the facts in our professional reports.

Councillor Mosdell was warned by the chairman not to overstep the mark with some of his misjudged comments.

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There were 12 planning applications considered by the Plans Committee on Monday night. For those interested, brief details of discussions and decisions below. If you wish to make a formal comment on any of the applications, follow the links. Please note that some consultation periods end tomorrow.

Public Questions
At the beginning of the meeting one member of the public drew the Committee’s attention to a retrospective application for retention of a sun terrace that overlooks his property and urged the Committee to take note of David Booth, Conservation Officer’s recommendations that this application be refused.

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Coming soon … the VentnorBlog guide to getting planning permission on the Isle of Wight.

As you may have noticed (!), we and many others have been keeping an eye on the Island planning applications on the Isle of Wight - which ones pass and which ones don’t.

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The reason we’re putting these photos up is to show Couthy Butts, both inside and outside, so those who weren’t able to visit on the open day that the owners ran (many did) can get a stronger understanding about the building.

Looking at the photos might bring you to the same conclusion - Why would the planning officers want this, the only example of Georgian worker’s cottages on the Island, demolished and all of the material removed from the site? (more…)

Here’s a bit more background, this time a video, on Couthy Butts and the confusing case where the planning has requested the demolition of the building.

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Have you read or heard about the Couthy Butts saga?

Here’s a brief summary - It’s a building that is thought to be over 250 years old and is the only example of a Georgian farm worker’s cottage on the whole of the Isle of Wight.

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If you didn’t see the article in last week’s County Press regarding the ongoing saga of Hazelhurst in Freshwater, check it out before reading on. It features a response from the architect for the project, Roy Holt. What follows is a response from Freshwater resident, Tony Robson, to the architect. Ed

With reference to County press article on Page 3, 27 June, 2008.

So Mr Holt is unhappy about the rights conveyed by the Hazelhurst Covenants. And so he should be. But where does he get the suggestion that the residents might resort to vandalism. It is not us who are planning to demolish a fine historic building and build a block of flats. Now surely that is cultural vandalism to say the least. (more…)

We’ve broken our embargo to listening to Dyke this week and bet that Alex Dyke never thought that VentnorBlog would be praising him, but he did a fantastic job of managing the phone in today (they say with their tongues firmly in their cheeks).

After a slow start, Alan Wells got the full force of people’s frustration at the council and there were a few wobbly moments, but with Alex’s help, he managed the hour and came off air at 12.58 with, we expect, a huge sigh of relief.

We’re not sure, but maybe the Comms Department will be presenting Alex a suitable reward.

It started out with Dyke and Alan Wells talking for the first 13 minutes, then an advertising break and at 12.15 he claimed that no-one had called yet. Then, literally in the next breath, all of a sudden there are four calls lined up. Hmm. (more…)

The fate of the last remaining Georgian workers cottages on the Wight will be decided next Tuesday at the Planning Committee.

We’re astonished that the planning officer has recommended refusal to retain the cottages and convert into them shepherd’s accommodation.

For those not familiar with the case you can read some background posted by one of the owners over on the forum.

To see the application and plans take a look at the Council Planning Web site, and to read the officer’s recommendation to the Planning Committee check the Council Web site.

You might remember seeing our “One Family Dwelling Covenant” posting last week about Hazelhurst, which was accompanied by the rather excellent cartoon drawn by Barry.

You might also have seen it reproduced in the County Press on Friday. But did anyone notice the variation? We didn’t until it was pointed out to us a couple of days ago. (more…)

Next Monday sees the Ventnor Town Council consider the latest planning applications in the area.

In a change to how these meetings previously took place, there is now a chance for the public to make statements before the meeting commences on any application being discussed at that particular meeting.

This follows the request for public representation at these meetings from Ventnor resident, Dennis Russell which was discussed and agreed by Councillors last month. (more…)

It appears that there’s another twist in planning peculiarities relating to the recommendation and subsequent approval of a development at Hazelhurst in Freshwater (previous).

Among the 226 comments submitted to the planning department, there is a letter sent by Anthony Robson, the owner of Blenheim House - a neighbouring property. It is dated 8th May and informs the planning officers of inaccuracies on the plans.

Mr Robson points out that according to the plans submitted by the architect of the proposed development, the building line in front of the property has been moved.

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As well as the Right to Wreck Covenant over the Hazelhurst property in Freshwater that has recently been given permission to be demolished and be replaced with nine flats, there is another covenant that was unearthed last week.

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The proposed development of Hazelhurst in Freshwater, diagonally opposite Dimbola Lodge, has cause a lot of consternation in and around Freshwater.

We covered the planning committee’s discussion of the case live at County Hall (complete planning meeting, Hazelhurst specific), where the planning permission was approved, on the developer’s third planning application.

Just when you thought it was all over, it looks like there’s another potentially significant twist in the story.

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Quick bit of info for those concerned. At the Ventnor Town Council on Monday night, Councillors saw no reason why the following two applications shouldn’t be approved.

A/02468 - P/01160/08
Richmond Hotel Esplanade Ventnor Isle Of Wight PO381JX
Two retractable awnings on front elevation with lettering

LBC/25702/F - P/00993/08
Westfield Mansion Shore Road Ventnor Isle Of Wight PO381RH
LBC for retention of two satellite dishes

For those not wishing to wade through all the notes from the Planning Committee last night, but interested to hear how the Cheetah Marine application was discussed, read on.

Application: Adjacent to east side of, pumping station, Esplanade, Ventnor, Isle of Wight
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For those who didn’t follow the live coverage of the Planning Committee, what follows are the notes taken down during the meeting by Simon, regarding the application for variation of permission for equestrian purposes at Ashey Common Farm, Deacons Lane, Ashey

Planning officer: Position of buildings (away from main cluster of buildings) is due to the application not owning the land near.
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For those who didn’t follow the live coverage of the Planning Committee, what follows are the notes taken down during the meeting by Simon, regarding the application for Hazelhurst, Gates Lane, Freshwater.

Planning officer presents - Miss S Wilkinson.
Came up in Jan 08 when it was refused.

It’s diagonally opposite from Dimbola Lodge.
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Yes folks, the Planning Committee felt that it was acceptable to allow the condition that Cheetah Marine be obliged to provide a harbour master’s office in perpetuity, to be removed from the planning permission.

Champagne all round at the Bonchurch Inn tonight then?

If you’re scratching your head wondering whether you were right in remembering county councillor Jonny Fitzgerald Bond state that the provision of the Harbour Master’s office was needed to meet the criteria specified by the SEEDA funding for the Haven - don’t worry you’re not going mad. Yes, he did say that at the DCC meeting on 25 April 2007.
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