PROTESTORS have gathered outside County Hall, in Newport, this afternoon (Tuesday) ahead of a meeting of the planning committee which will determine the future of the last dairy farm in Ryde. 

Finding out its fate this evening, Westridge Farm could become another large development in Ryde if the committee decide in favour of Captiva Homes' West Acre Park plans for 473 houses, a GP surgery, cafe and open space. 

Isle of Wight County Press:

Last week, officers published their recommended decision to give conditional permission to the development despite a petition, 570 objections and human rights concerns.

Isle of Wight County Press:

The plans would see 166 affordable homes and 307 market houses although not all local residents are happy about the development.

Members of the Save Westridge Farm campaign group are now protesting the potential decision at the home of the Isle of Wight Council as the final decision is set to be made tonight. 

WATCH the video here .... 

One protestor, a resident of Malborough Road, which will have houses built behind it, said the 88 houses already built by Captiva Homes on the farm have made it worse to live there and that another 400 hmes would be a disaster.

 They said: "It will change the way of life for people as it is already a big residential town.

"You start building on that and it will become one big sprawling mass.

"Once something is concreted that is it, it doesn’t come back you cannot take it all away.

"We need to protect what we have and this is the last rural farm in Ryde."

Isle of Wight County Press: