Environmental Concerns Raised Over Plans For Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp

Plans linked to the redevelopment of a historic clifftop holiday camp on the Isle of Wight have prompted environmental concerns from local parish councils.

Both Brighstone Parish Council and Shorwell Parish Council have raised objections over the potential use of herbicides at the Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp site off Military Road.

Site owner Encore Leisure Propco has submitted an application to Isle of Wight Council seeking to discharge two planning conditions attached to permission granted in 2022, as part of plans to reopen the site as Atherfield Bay Holiday Resort.

A habitat management plan prepared by Applied Ecology proposes managing the so-called “Western Bee Field” to create and maintain a coastal grassland habitat that supports wildlife.

However, Brighstone Parish Council says it is disappointed that herbicide use still forms a “potentially significant part” of the management plan.

Clerk Joy Walker said the council would prefer to see manual methods only, given the site’s sensitive location close to marine environments and its status within the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI.

Shorwell Parish Council echoed those concerns, saying the use of herbicide to control weeds is “not desirable” at such a sensitive site and suggesting alternatives such as manual weeding.

Both councils said they would therefore adopt a neutral position on the application rather than fully supporting it.

According to the ecological plan, the aim of the habitat management is to maintain a mix of coastal grassland habitats, supporting species including reptiles, small mammals and birds of prey.

Public consultation on the application has now closed, with Isle of Wight Council expected to make a decision by 5 May.