Author: Sal
Cheetah Marine Ventnor Development A Total Disgrace
Monday, 9th October, 2006 at 12:18 pm, Isle of Wight
OK … we tried to remain impartial when posting about the Mill Bay Development (despite our strong objections to it), and we held back from posting our anger about the St Joseph’s development when it was first submitted (because we are so closely associated with it) - but this has got to be the final straw.
Thanks to one of our readers, it has been brought to our attention that Cheetah Marine have once again submitted a planning application to build a factory bang in the middle of the esplanade car park.
Where does the arrogance of thinking they can take away such an important public amenity come from? I’m totally baffled and finding it hard to take this application seriously.
Here’s a rendition of it marked up on a photo taken in the summer.
From looking at the application details it was received by the council on 8th August 2006, I am wondering why it has taken so long for it to go out to public consultation? There may well be a reasonable explanation, and invite the planning office to come on the blog/forum and let us know (pretty unlikely given they rarely respond to direct correspondence).
People power is needed here - if there aren’t enough valid objections it WILL go through and next year, all the holiday makers that so many businesses rely upon will just keep driving when they happen upon Ventnor and can’t find anywhere to park.
Cheetah may’ve changed it to less floors and chucked out the idea of accommodation units, but it’s not a matter of accepting the lesser of two evils - there should be no evil. They should NOT be able to take away a public amenity. Lose the car park could have a serious effect on the town.
If this application goes through, we will eventually lose the paddling pool (who will want to paddle next to a fish factory and an industrial unit) and then what’s next?
Having seen the proposed Mill Bay development and now this, perhaps it goes some way to explaining why there has been so much resistance to pedestrianisation of the esplanade by some seafront businesses.
Planning Application - TCP/14875/L, P/02013/06. We have until 27th October to get our comments into the council.
Have your say on the forum.
BTW, I was going through a number of planning applications on the council website and noticed that an application from a resident in a property in Spring Hill to convert part of their garden to hardstanding for parking was rejected as they ‘would not be able to enter and exit in forward gear only’ and it would therefore be contrary to policy TR7, D1.d and G4.c of the UDP.
Perhaps the owners of the Spring Hill property didn’t have ‘friends’ at County Hall?
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October 9th, 2006 at 8:57 pm
I am suprised by nothing that the planers allow to happen to Ventnor of late, It is becoming so clear that money is changing hands and deals being struck.
The trouble is that when you have a number of individuals who`s only intrest is the amount of money they can make, the towns best intrests fall aside, these are greedy b…..rds who will strip the town of all its nautrall assetts take the money and move on elsewhere, because they will decide Ventnor is not a good place to live anymore.
When these people (we all know who the are)talk of success they measure it by the wieght of their pockets and not the things and people around them, unfortunatly other sad no-minds
look up to and respect these people and get sweept along.
October 17th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
People are not always happy with change,but as we all know we have to move with the times. This new building on the sea front could look a lot worse and i dont see how this will effect the paddling pool. i am sure that the council have made sure that the parking will be replaced, and that ventnor haven will benefit from the forward thinking of cheetah marine
October 17th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Yes, we all agree that change is sometimes necessary but change doesn’t have to mean turning the seafront into an industrial unit - and it probably doesn’t matter what the building looks like - it’s got a 2 metre industrial fence around it. Nice touch.
Why not come onto the forum to put forward your views, we’re keen to keep the discussion balanced.
April 8th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Has anyone considered the welfare of Ventnor’s unique wall lizards, who reside close by this very spot? Any development in this area is sure to have an effect on their habitat.