Fire Training Row: Developer Confronted By Residents At Gurnard Meeting

The developer behind a controversial fire training facility planned for vacant land at an Isle of Wight farm has faced questions directly from residents.

Andy Hunt, owner of Flying Fish maritime training company, told a meeting of Gurnard Parish Council that he had previously “failed miserably” in communicating the plans to the local community.

Speaking at Gurnard Village Hall on Wednesday (March 25), Mr Hunt sought to reassure those in attendance that the proposed operation at Cockleton Farm would not involve fires, pallets or smoke.

Instead, he explained the training would use a controlled gas-based system inside shipping containers.

The meeting followed a request by Cowes West and Gurnard councillor Paul Fuller for the application to be considered by Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee.

Concerns raised include potential short- and long-term health impacts, the loss of agricultural land, environmental considerations and the site’s proximity to nearby homes.

Other issues highlighted were the scale of the development, as well as possible noise, light pollution and its visual impact on the Gurnard Plateau.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Hunt said:

“We are not going to be burning fires, pallets, smoke or oil drums as I’ve seen in some images — we are not doing that at all. We are using a gas solution.

“We will be using fire extinguishers on site, including water, CO2 and powder extinguishers as part of the training.

“We plan to clear the site, put down a flagstone base and arrange a series of containers around it.”

He added there would be no sirens or alarm systems, and that a full course would involve around 20 students, supported by three or four instructors.

At present, Flying Fish intends to run one course per week.

During the meeting, a resident named Richard raised concerns about possible future expansion, suggesting the site could grow from a small setup into something larger, such as a simulated yacht or superyacht.

In response, Mr Hunt said there were no plans to expand, saying:

“We don’t need to expand, we don’t need to go bigger and there is no intention to change the configuration of the site.”

Another resident, Peter, asked whether that commitment could be put in writing as part of the planning application.

Mr Hunt confirmed he would be “very happy” to do so.

The Isle of Wight Council’s public consultation on the application closed on March 20, with a decision expected on April 16.