A PETITION opposing the building of 10,000 new homes on the Isle of Wight has been signed by more than 1,600 people in just two days.

MP Bob Seely launched the petition, alongside a survey, to gauge local reaction to the Island Plan which will determine the council's planning policy for years to come.

One contentious part of the plan is to fulfil a government-imposed initiative to build 9,000 new homes on the Island in the next 15 years, and Mr Seely has launched a petition to oppose this element.

Mr Seely said he opposed the housing element because the Island does not have the infrastructure to support significant extra housing.

He said: "“I am encouraged by the support the petition has gained already. The petition is a reaction to what Islanders have been telling me – yes we need new homes but these need to be for Island people and built in harmony with the Island’s environment.

"The Island needs one and two-bedroom houses to be built to meet the demand of Islanders. Furthermore, we need this housing to be built on brownfield land wherever possible to retain the natural beauty for the benefit of Islanders and visitors."

Mr Seely will now attend several public meetings to discuss the contents of the Island Plan.

He said: "I am very interested to hear what my constituents think about the Island Plan and I encourage everyone to sign the petition and complete the survey.

"It is vital people have a say now while there is a chance to influence the contents of the plan."