Shalfleet Parish Council Planning Meeting Tuesday 22nd December 2015 at 1000am

There is (yet another) pair of planning applications from West Wight Alpacas for the Shalfleet Parish Council to consider.  The Parish Council has, for the benefit of residents, kindly offered to hold a special planning meeting at the Parish Office Main Road, Newbridge, at 1000am on Tuesday 22nd December.  I am sure many of you will join me in thanking the councillors and clerk for taking out this time so close to Christmas and at such short notice.  This was dropped on the community of Wellow after previous applications had been submitted then withdrawn several times due to errors in their applications and on one occasion no reason given.  Several residents have said that these constant planning applications, drip-drip, are tantamount to harassment; there never seems to be a period when we don't have to look at what is being proposed by West Wight Alpacas Limited to change the character of the small hamlet of Wellow.  You can examine  the planning applications online on the Isle of Wight Council website at the following links (click on the underlined text):

TCP/30601/R, P/01214/15West Wight Alpacas land accessed off Main Road Wellow Yarmouth Isle Of Wight PO41Variation of conditions no.7 and 8 on P/01713/12 TCP/30601/H to allow opening hours of 1000 hours to 2300 hours Monday to Sunday including Bank and Public Holidays and to allow mixed use of existing farm shop as farm shop and cafe. (readvertised)

TCP/30601/S, P/01347/15West Wight Alpacas land accessed off Main Road Wellow Yarmouth Isle Of Wight PO41Formation of Vehicular Access (Revised scheme)

Below, I have embedded the official Parish noticeboard agenda and a scan of two letters written by locals, published in the County Press last week (Friday 18th December 2015).

At the previous Shalfleet Parish Council planning meeting held to discuss prior submissions for West Wight Alpacas' intentions  to open a licensed restaurant, apply for a zoo license with Dangerous Wild Animals License and a plan to grub-out a large section of hedgerow to bulldoze a new access into a field, the Chair of the Parish Council said that it would be useful if Wellow residents could form a Residents' Association.

I am pleased to inform you that several Wellow residents met last week to discuss the formation of a Residents Group and have formed the Wellow Residents' Group.  There are no subscriptions, no rules, no official memberships at this stage.  For the time being until residents can elect their own choice, Mrs Rosalind Neary JP of Lime Barn, Wellow is prepared to be acting chair and David Walter of Flowerburn Cottage is prepared to be acting secretary.   You can contact David at wellowresidents@gmail.com and/or Rosalind at rosalindneary@gmail.com  Membership of the WRG is automatic for all those on the electoral register at a Wellow address.  Unless and until the WRG has a formed constitution it is not a legal entity but does provide a focal point for the communication between Wellow residents and other bodies.  If you would like to be actively involved in the Wellow Residents' Group do please contact either Rosalind or David; you will be made most welcome!

Shalfleet Parish Council noticeboard copy of Planning Meeting on Tuesday 22nd December 2015

Planning Agenda 22.12.15 Public and Website Copy by david5174

Letters from Mr Geoff Neary and Mr Jon Hall to the County Press published on 18th December 2015

CPLetters18-12-15 by david5174

Shalfleet Parish Council Meeting Wednesday December 2nd NOTE: 0930am at Shalfleet Hall

The December 2015 Shalfleet Parish Council Meeting is to be held at the EARLY TIME of 0930am at Shalfleet Hall (Shalfleet Hall is the recently-refurbished hall behind Shalfleet Village.  Several people have commented why we have the parish council meeting at such a time on a work-day when anyone who is working, taking children to school or minding family is going to have trouble being there.

I have re-posted the agenda below.  Please note that West Wight Alpacas have now re-submitted their application to remove conditions of use that were originally stipulated by the Planning Department to reduce the impact on the hamlet of Wellow.  West Wight Alpacas are asking for permission to open from 1000am to 2300pm 365 days per year and to change the defined usage from A1 (shop/café) to A3, which is a full restaurant.  The Government Planning Portal shows the definitions here:  http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/changeofuse/   On 3rd October West Wight Alpacas invited locals to listen to their plans and Mr Payne, the owner, stated that "We are going to apply for a (alcohol) license....we are considering a conservatory style extension to get another sixteen covers .... and a Pompeii pizza oven with a DEFRA approved chimney...."

This application to vary the conditions is to change the USAGE (from A1 to A3) which would usually require full planning consent; they are planning to up-scale and upgrade from a café incidental to alpacas to a licensed restaurant free to open from 1000 to 2300 365 days a year.  You can see the planning application on the IWC website at https://www.iwight.com/planning/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=30413

Agenda_2015-12-02.pdf by david5174

Shalfleet Parish Council Meeting Wednesday 11th November, Parish Office **Warlands Lane Masts Planning Application**

Shalfleet Parish Council Meeting -- Planning Application for mobile phone masts, Shalfleet

November Meeting Public and website copy.pdf by david5174

Please note the new planning application for mobile phone masts at Homestead Farm.  It is planning application P/01199/15 click here to view 

I had earlier posted here that this planning application is an alteration to a recently approved application.  I am indebted to a local resident who has pointed out that the tower, subject of this planning application, has been in place for some time and is not connected with the solar farm control tower.  I apologise for the misinformation and for suggesting that the developers or LPA were trying to sneak a change to the application that was approved recently.

There remains of course the question of the visual amenity and the concerns of residents about health risks of mobile phone radio installations.