MP Bob Seely is backing a campaign which calls on town and parish councils to designate their open spaces as town or village greens to protect them from development.
Mr Seely said the ‘Grant a Green’ campaign - led by national conservation body Open Spaces Society - was another way green areas could be protected from unnecessary development.
He said: “The threat of overdevelopment on the Island is very concerning. We are seeing planning applications coming forward almost every week on greenfield sites and although I am opposing these, we need a long-term plan to ensure our natural spaces are protected from harmful development.
“I have committed to tackle this issue head-on. The first thing I have done is to lobby Government to see our housing target reduced. I am also working with the Council to make the case for exceptional circumstance for the Island so that we are not bound by national targets.
“Secondly, I am seeking additional protections for our green spaces. I have set out to the Government my vision for the Island to have the UK’s first ‘Island Park’ which would see the Island gain unique protection status somewhere between that of an AONB and National Park.
“Thirdly, I want to work with the Isle of Wight Council to ensure we make the best use of brownfield land for new housing and regeneration schemes.
“There are lots of ways we can work to ensure development happens in the right places without the need to rip up our countryside.
“One of the ways local town and parish councils can help to save our green spaces is to apply to have their open areas registered as town and village greens and I encourage them to do so. We need to work together to fight against unwanted development that is harmful to our natural environment and reduces our quality of life.”
Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society, said: “We are delighted that Bob Seely is supporting our campaign to encourage local councils to register open space as village greens.
“We know that the Island is suffering from proposals for development, and this is a way to secure open spaces for public enjoyment forever. It is heartening to have Bob’s backing and influence for our important endeavour.”
