By Carole Dennett
An Isle of Wight councillor is claiming that his request for a controversial planning application to be dealt with by elected members rather than be decided by an officer was ignored.
Cllr David Adams, the representative for Nettlestone and Seaview said he was “surprised to be informed by a resident that planning permission had been granted for a house on the ‘Donkey Field’ in Seaview”.
He and the parish council had made several requests for the application to be dealt with by elected members on the Planning Committee, as it is controversial locally and contrary to the draft Neighbourhood Plan which has already been submitted to the IW Council. The plan calls for the green field site to be a designated green space. There were also 102 public objections to the plans and no comments in favour.
The rules of the IW Council say that a councillor can ask a planning application to be dealt with by the committee if it is “of significant impact” to the area they represent. If officers do not agree they should seek to reach agreement with the councillor or ultimately consult the chairman of the Planning Committee.
Cllr Adams said that he was not included in any discussions, other than an “initial rebuttal” which he responded to.
He added: “The fact that the community was disregarded, and no reference made to policy contraventions in the officer report, is giving a message of disdain and wilful disregard for policies.
“Officers claim that this three-bedroomed house will contribute to an identified Islandwide need for 2/3 bed dwellings, but fails to acknowledge that this is a potential £1m property – exactly what the Island, and Seaview with its oversupply of executive housing, does not want.
“In the parish it is felt that their opinions and those of their elected representatives are worthless, and that there is no democracy. A sad day for the Parish and the Island.”
The IW Council has been contacted for a comment.