During February and March

• With many of my constituents, I attended the Stop The Cuts Protest against Proposed Council Cutbacks in Newport.

• I voted against the Conservative administrations cutbacks.

• Attended a public meeting to listen to Tim Coates concerning modernising the Library Service.

• Received concerns from residents concerning the Inside Out documentary citing caution on intended PFI Awards.

• Met with a local business to discuss forming a Composting Co-operative.

• Received a complaint, passed to the Interim Principal on school uniforms for the new Cowes Enterprise College.

• Attended 3 meetings discussing the new Community Bus Service and followed this up with a discussion with bus users.  +30 volunteers have put their names forward as drivers.
• Attended a meeting of the Isle of Wight Youth Council, where I was asked to give an overview of the Council’s Budget.
• Helped to signpost Age UK, who are looking to acquire a replacement minibus.
• Received a number of emails and letters concerning pavement parking.

• Attended all full meetings of the Local Town and Parish Councils and the Gurnard Community Projects Committee.

• In Gurnard I reported Pot Holes (and coaches!) using Church Road, Followed up parking on grass verges in Worsley Road, complained about alleged damage to grass verges by SGN Contractors in Rew Street.

• I’ve dealt with further Planning Enforcement Issues in Egypt Hill, Shore Road and Rew Street.

• I’ve received more complaints of School Buses using Church Road, and hope to address these directly with the operator.

• There has been more complaints concerning Grass Verges from Solent Lawns contractors.

• Received a complaint about the new Beach Information Signs on Gurnard Beach being too intrusive, meanwhile new Agricultural Vehicle signs have now been put in place on Rew Street.

• I’ve had meetings with Head Teacher at Cowes Primary School, Stephanie Praetig where we’ve discussed Traffic issues in and around the school. We hope to work together with Governors from Cowes High School on a complimentary Traffic Plan.

• I had a discussion with the Chairman of Cowes Business Association over local issues.

• Met with SGN, Highways, Gurnard Pines and Gurnard Parish Councils over the replacement Cross Solent Gas Main and the impact the closure would have upon Cockleton Lane

• Discussed local issues concerning access matters and public transport issues with Cowes Older Voices.

• Attended a local Community Transport Meeting.

• Joined other volunteers at Gurnard’s Big Tidy Up.

• Attended a Footprint Trust Meeting, and will be promoting the Energetic Campaign which provides energy efficiency initiatives for families and pensioners living on their own. I have also had some low key discussions concerning community composting initiatives, as well as potentially initiating a potential woodland management project for local schools.

• Have spoken to Northwood House Trustees about relocating bays for Coach Parking.

• Met with Cowes High Students concerning proposals for a meeting place, once Cowes Youth Club closes.

• Discussed policing concerns following thefts from vehicles and ask residents to continue reporting incidents.

• Taken up further complaints concerning No Cold Calling campaigns against Energy Suppliers in Cowes.

• Passed on advice to residents from Environmental Health about the lighting of bonfires in Baring Road.

• I’ve spoken to Highways re: school buses in Baring Road & Church Road, overgrown hedges in Place Road and speeding in Park Road

• Taken up concerns about delays over the Isle of Wight Council's Call Centre.

New Cowes Library Opening Hours unveiled.

The Cowes Library Forum [which I'm a member] has been advised that there will be adequate funding made available from the IW Council to ensure Cowes Library is open for 24.5 hours per week.   Members agreed to open during hours where demand has been greatest.

These will change from Monday 4th April and opening times from this date will be:

10am-12:30pm and 1:30-5pm Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays;

10am-4:30pm on Saturdays.

The Library will be close on Wednesdays, as well as Thursdays and Sundays.

Although, I am disappointed by these cutbacks and where the Service finds itself, I am anxious of where we are, and what needs to be done to go forward! I therefore urge residents who care about the future of our library service to join the Library User Forums, and have in the meantime spoken to several residents interested in becoming helpers. 

I remain hopeful, that in the future Councillors will think differently on both the importance of our library service and acts sensibly in how best this service can be modernised [and properly funded] for the future.

For further information in getting involved in any way, please contact assistant Town Clerk to Cowes Town Council at: janerandall2000@yahoo.co.uk

Northwood House Consultation

I have been approached by a number of residents wishing to know more about proposals for Northwood House. I have been reminded that the deadline for comments ends on Saturday April 30th. I support this deadline will be extended to enable residents that are away during April to comment. I believe this is an important issue for residents and the wider community and the more consultation is promoted the better. In the meantime I will be publicising this by way of my reports.

For further information on the consultation please visit: http://www.northwoodhouse.org/

Pot Hole Watch Launched!

Following last months Cowes Town Council meeting, I am pleased to report that Highways has been provided with an additional £800,000 of Government Grant, ring fenced for repairing of Pot Holes. It is hoped that this will enable Highways to invest in longer term surface dressing and resurfacing where pot holes are particularly bad. I will be asking specifically that Ward Avenue, and Parklands Avenue are given priority.

In the meantime, I’m asking residents to let me know of areas they consider that are particularly bad, especially where holes have been marked out and not patched!

Please call me on 01983 289595 for details.

Capital Programme: Baring Road Footpath on hold....

It seems unlikely that the pavement for Baring Road (between Egypt Hill and Pine Tree Close) will be constructed this year from the Council’s Capital Programme. The grant which the Council has received from Government will allocate £751,000 for Integrated Transport (a decrease from last year) and £3,179,00 for Highways Maintenance (a slight increase). The amount for Integrated Transport through Safe Routes to School is £69,000, whilst the cost of the pavement is £600,000!

Although the likelihood of funding from this pot is at best remote,  I am exploring different options (other government grants and developer contributions), and plan to discuss these further with officers in April.

Within the Highways Maintenance- Park Road and Princes Esplanade are reserve schemes for this year, whilst funding has been earmarked through Rights Of Way for the Coastal Path, Gurnard. Also under Highways Maintenance 68 lighting columns are due to be replaced. In Cowes West and Gurnard this relates to Crossfield Avenue (6), Park Road (1), Marsh Road (2), Tuttons Hill (2) and The Avenue (1).

Cowes Planning Applications Update: New School, Essex House, Egypt Hill, Ward Avenue

At Planning Committee, I took the lead in seeing a controversial development in Totland was turned down.

Work is due to, or has already commenced on a large number of local Planning Applications approved in the last few years. Ironically, many of the larger projects have been less contentious than smaller schemes.

a) Cowes Enterprise College.

I received a handful of complaints concerning contractors parking in the side roads in Crossfield Avenue. Pihl has provided additional parking both ’on site’, with extra parking being made at Northwood House. The School has agreed also to free up car parking outside term time. A video of the construction of the new school features on the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuncXwZnk24&feature=player_embedded. Monthly newsletters are hand delivered to 80 households nearby, whilst meetings continue every 4-6 weeks. I’ve asked that representatives from Cowes Town Council and Neighbourhood Watch attend on residents’ behalf.  Households that adjoin the school site in Ward Avenue will receive newsletters to update residents on progress. 

b) Essex House, Baring Road/ Cliff Road.

Planning Officers have advised me that work is soon to commence on the Essex House development. I’ve requested that residents are kept up to date with progress on this.

c) Egypt Hill.

There has been site clearance at both the Moorings, and latterly at the Brambles in Egypt Hill. I hope to meet with the applicant of the Brambles, who also hopes to develop at 25/ 26 Princes Esplanade.

d) Ward Avenue.

I’ve received a complaint from residents in Ward Avenue concerning an enforcement matter, where a planning application was refused. A meeting’s been arranged with Enforcement Officers to ensure this matter is resolved.

e) In Gurnard…

Cockleton Lane was closed for 10 days to enable the laying of the replacement Gas Main, whilst I asked Highways Officers to visit 5 Shore Road, following scaffolding being erected directly on the road. I have passed on more concerns re: Solent Lawns.  Meanwhile, appeals were dismissed at Cow Lane and Shore Road.  More details will follow on Gurnard applications.

April Surgeries

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 5th April,

Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

6pm-6:30pm, Tuesday 12th April,

 Portland Inn, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 20th April,

 The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

11:45-12 noon, Wednesday 20th April,

Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

3-4pm, Wednesday 27th April, (Students 3-3:30pm)

Cowes High School, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.