A NEW Environment Agency and Island Roads approved drainage system is being installed 'as a matter of priority' on a controversial development site in Brighstone.

There was flooding ­— including into three homes — after a deluge of torrential rain on Monday, July 13.

The main road through the village was also flooded for a time and one resident waded through knee-deep water to get home.

Residents have claimed Monday's problems were "unquestionably" linked to the nearby Blanchards housing scheme.

Work has just started on the site and vegetation has been cleared.

In the system since 2013, the project was originally refused permission, against the recommendation of Isle of Wight Council's planning committee.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Objectors gained nearly 300 signatures on an online petition and the Isle of Wight's MP Bob Seely was among those to welcome the scheme's refusal.

However, the decision was overturned in 2016 and after more applications to flesh out plans for the site, work is now underway.

Called Blanchards Fields, it will incorporate thirty properties and self-build plots.

An Abbeyfield home and sheltered housing, as well as properties that will be sold on the market, are going to be built.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Developers say local people with links to Brighstone will be given priority when they are sold.

A doctors' surgery, pharmacy and community park are also planned.

Describing what happened on Monday, homeowner Steve Tearle told the County Press: "Slowly watching your home and belongings get wrecked by flooding is a truly depressing experience.

"Nobody would question Monday’s rain was heavy, however, to anyone who watched the events unfold, it was very clear that the water causing these properties to flood was flowing in large torrents from the Blanchards development site.

Isle of Wight County Press:

While Casses Close residents were fortunate to escape major property damage, their gardens were submerged. The flood water caused the liner of a pond to lift, resulting in a near-empty pond and the loss of numerous fish.

"This was a highly predictable flood issue driven more by short sighted and ridiculous political and planning decisions."

A spokesperson for the developer said: "Rainey Petrie Architecture and ERMC were proud to be involved with the architecture and technical design that led to the successful planning application for the development at Blanchards Fields.

"The site was purchased from the Cheverton Estate by local developer Blanchards Fields Limited.

Isle of Wight County Press:

"Gaining planning approval involved extensive design works and geotechnical investigations relating to both ground bearing capacity and the percolation characteristics of the land.

"This was undertaken with close scrutiny leading to formal approval of the proposed design by Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council."

The finished development will include drainage solutions to manage storm water, including a balancing pond which has been designed to slow the speed that water flows into the storm drains.

The spokesperson said the scheme is designed so it does not make flooding worse.

However, it has yet to be installed and residents have told the County Press that Monday's problems could have been avoided.

Isle of Wight County Press:

An artist's impression of the Blanchards development. 

A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council said “The development at this site has commenced, but only the initial ground works have been undertaken so far.

"Therefore, the drainage scheme that has been approved has not been installed yet.

“The flooding is caused by high rainfall at a site that is not yet completed and therefore no breaches in planning control have occurred.

"Planning officers will be inspecting the drainage system as it is installed and are due to visit the site this week to view the current flood issues.”