DERBYHAVEN: THE FIGHT GOES ON

Residents of the beautiful hamlet of Derbyhaven are shocked and horrified that the proposal to build seventeen houses and four apartments on the adjoining golf course was approved on review.  If the plan (Ref. 05/02044/A.) goes ahead, it will seriously damage the visual amenity and change the character of the village forever.

Amazement was expressed that planning approval was granted despite overwhelming opposition, including scores of pages of objections and reasoned argument against, from Statutory Bodies, Local Government and the local residents.

The main bone of contention has been the manner in which the planning application was handled by the Applicant and the Planning Department.  A previous application on the same site for a single large dwelling was approved in principle with little opposition because the applicant had promised that he would enter into a Section 18 agreement (of the 1991 Town and Country Planning Act) that would restrict the site to a single dwelling for all time.  Unfortunately, unknown to other stakeholders, the Planning Department and the Applicant did not implement the undertaking.

Residents feel that they have been duped by the applicant and seriously let down by the Planners.  A public awareness campaign has already started and will now move up a gear.  Campaign Coordinator Philip Vermeulen said:

”Residents are meeting on Thursday 18^th May and they are likely to be very angry.  We have already vowed to fight it all the way until an acceptable Section 18 agreement for a single dwelling has been concluded.”

Messages of support have come from all over the Island and beyond, including: -

“May I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors?”

 “Do not let them build this development. This will be the ruination of the village. This is happening all over the island, planning by stealth.”

“I felt angry on your behalf that the landowner in your case could say one thing and do another: these things should be irrevocable.”

Please use the ‘Contact Us’ link or the ‘Guestbook’ to pledge your support.