By Isle of Wight Observer
Greenfields (IoW), the company set up by Appley and Elmfield residents to fight housing plans for the former Westridge Farm, has applied for permission to appeal against the court decision made in July.
The judgement had overall found in favour of the Isle of Wight Council, granting planning permission to build 472 houses on a greenfield site at Westridge Farm in Ryde. However, the court did rule in favour of Greenfields on two grounds, agreeing that the IW Council acted unlawfully.
Residents, after seeking legal advice, believe there were mistakes in the judgement and the overall ruling is unfair. A Greenfield representative said: “Whilst we too want closure on this case, we have yet to see a judgment which we and our legal team believe makes judicial sense, based on the evidence presented last July. Accordingly, we must pursue this matter with the superior courts until we do see that. When we do, we will stop. Not before.”
Michael Lilley, Councillor of Ryde Appley & Elmfield added, “I have supported the Save Westridge Farm Campaign for over eight years. The land is not suitable for housing due to inadequate road infrastructure. Climate change has emphasised the need to preserve green fields near the coastline to prevent flooding and landslips. Westridge Farm is also home to endangered species like the curlew, bats, swallows, the dormouse, and migrating birds.
“This has always been a David and Goliath case, and David is not lying down; he is fighting back for future generations.”
