Slow worms halt work on Isle of Wight housing development

The Isle of Wight Council is carrying out a new survey after an elderly man, 79, raised the alarm.

In 2019, the Isle of Wight Council granted planning permission to develop six houses on the Medina Avenue site in Newport, which was occupied by the former driving test centre.

Clearance works had recently started but have now been halted.

Site clearance works have been halted so a survey can be carried out. (Image: IWCP)

Harold Mitchell, who lives next door to the site, alerted the council about the potential for slow worms being affected by the works.

He has lived on the road since 1996.

He said: "All along the back of the gardens are slow worms."

He also aired concerns about asbestos being present on the development site.

Harold raised his concerns by getting in contact with Cllr Martin Oliver, councillor for Mountjoy and Shide.

Cllr Oliver requested an urgent update from the community led housing officer.

He told the County Press last week: "I am not sure if the officer is aware that slow worms are present on the site.

"I am also unaware of the extent and amount of asbestos on the site and will question him on this at the same time."

The site from Medina Avenue (Image: IWCP)

This week, the Isle of Wight Council told the County Press in a statement: "Works have been temporarily halted.

"Site clearance works were being undertaken and there is no need for an ecology report to carry these out.

"A neighbour advised us of the potential for slow worms to be on the site and a survey is now being carried out.

"We are aware of the potential for asbestos on the site and this will be managed appropriately when works are carried out."

In reaction, Harold said: "They should be doing the tests properly."

Harold has wider concerns about the development and believes the site was used for landfill in the 1960s. 

In 2019, works were halted on the same site when badgers were found living there.

An ecology report was conducted in November 2018, and housing has failed to materialise in the years since.

Slow worms are protected under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, meaning it is an offence to kill, injure or sell them.

They suffer from habitat loss in the UK due to changing landscapes and developments.

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said: “The Council were not aware of slow worms being on site until it was raised with them by a local resident. 

"As they became aware, the Council took appropriate action, and a survey has been instructed.”