Surgeries
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 10th January, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
11-11:45am, Wednesday 18th January, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 7th February, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
Contact Details
I changed my email address, following a recent upgrade to my Computer system. This was necessary due to compatibility issues I had with my old system, particularly as I am now working much more from home. Please accept my apologies for confusion over the Christmas Period, this being further aggravated by being unable to access my Address Book, and by residents (and the IW Council) not being aware of my new contact details.
For this reason my report for January will be shorter than usual!
Digital Switchover Event: 12- 4pm Thursday, January 12th at Gurnard Village Hall.
Supported by Age Concern, Gurnard Village Hall Association are holding an event which will pass on information to residents wishing to know more about the Digital Switchover, once Television Transmitters are turned off in March. For details contact Carolyn Sibley on 297154.
Cowes to retain its NHS Dentists.
Over Christmas, I received a number of phone calls from residents concerned over proposals by the Primary Care Trust to withdraw the NHS Dentist in Cowes. Since the report was published, I have spoken to both the practice manager at Cowes Medical Centre and the PCT, and can confirm that contrary to the report the NHS dentist will in fact remain.
Storm Damage.
I have requested that litter bins on Egypt and Princes Esplanade are monitored by the Environmental Officers, this follows bolts to some of the bins becoming corroded during the winter.
Storm damage also arose on Shore Path, Gurnard when part of the sea wall collapsed. I understand that the wall is due to be repaired during this month.
Isle of Wight Budget 2012.
I am liaising with a number of residents contacted me over last year’s corporate budget proposals. If there are items residents and Parish/ Town Councillors, wish to see prioritised please let me know. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to holding themed surgeries to listen to residents suggestions.
The Isle of Wight Group of Independent Councillors (of which I am a member), are calling a Public meeting to further gauge the views of Island residents prior to setting our alternative budget. This meeting will be held at The Riverside Centre, Newport on10am, Saturday 21 January.
Cowes Community Bus Service.
During Christmas, I have been out and about on the Community Bus finding listening to passengers and drivers for ideas for the new service once it commences in April. One of the top priorities for existing passengers is to re-direct some services via Rew Street rather than Cockleton Lane. A meeting with the Working Party and Southern Vectis, is due to take place later this month.
Neighbourhood Plans.
I attended the first meeting of Gurnard’s Neighbourhood Plan Working Party, last month. At present there are still questions that need to be responded to before work can begin. Namely, what is being proposed specifically in the Island Plan; How many homes will be required in specific localities; What status will there be for current development boundaries; Will funding for Plans be made available by government etc. and what exactly will Planning Guidance specify communities need to do? In the next month, I intend to get a steer from the Planning Policy Team.
Waste Collection and Recycling
New arrangements, will be implemented from 30th January. Letters to householders are being sent out ‘imminently’.
Cowes Businesses/ Retailers Consultation, November 2011.
During November Cllr Robinson and I spent three days, listening to traders in Cowes to identify issues they have with running businesses in the town, and what Cowes (and Isle of Wight) Councillors, could do to support Businesses.
Businesses Consulted: Beken & Son Photography, Drift, Union Inn, Bespoke Tailors, Bob Lancaster Estate Agents, Octopus’ Garden, Galerius, Cigar Box, The Plaza, Beresfords, The Sweet Shop, RNLI Shop, That Shop, Little Cowes, Quay 4, The Bag Shop, Angels Attic, Pascal Atkey, The Fountain Hotel, Nat West Bank, Taylor & Sons, Shorelines, Hamiltons, Willets and Doig, Bailey’s, Aquatogs, Food Hamper, Musto, Fat Face, Tiffins, IT Figures, Zabre, Cowes Dress Agency, Number Fifty, Earl Mountbatten Hospice Shop, Ocean World, HSBC Bank, Quba, Buff, Live Like This, Sula Products, Roar, Pit Stop, Crew Clothing Co., Magic Marine, Pure Beauty, Amusement Arcade, Arcade Convenience, Hursts, Pittis, Wight Stuff, Carphone Warehouse, Joules, Healthy Indulgence, Day/Lewis, Ginger, Boatshed, Anchor Inn, Jolliffe’s, NSPCC Charity Shop, Jolliffe’s Chandlery, Fishing Tackle, RSPCA Shop, Bekens of Cowes, Edward Watts and Young Fashion, Eegons and Ladbrokes. (68 Businesses)
Overview: One of the main issues featured was the availability and cost of car parking in town for Shoppers and for staff. Businesses in the High Street north of Cowes Pontoon and in Bath Road and Birmingham Road felt that more signposting would focus greater attention to either end of the town. Businesses acknowledged in these parts of town a need for opening times, with hours be consistent between shops. It was also noted by some businesses that retailers regularly did not comply strictly with their opening times which resulted in complaints from shoppers.
Businesses at either end of the town felt further disadvantaged, as they considered it unfair they were unable to gain the same entitlement to park at a reduced rate when compared to colleagues running businesses in the centre of the town.
There were a number of businesses that were optimistic about trading in Cowes. These were the more specialist traders and businesses selling lower-cost goods. All of the Charity Shops had reported a good year. Traders less optimistic, were the Higher cost clothing shops in the Town. South of Cowes Pontoon, traders raised concern over the loss of the pedestrianized aspect of the town. One business person accused another of not adhering to restrictions. Another request made was for improvements to accessibility for the elderly and disabled. A view was expressed that kerbs (particularly near to the Pontoon) needed to be dropped, as shopkeepers regularly witnessed elderly and infirm residents having difficulty in negotiating these. Shopkeepers between Terminus Road and Carvel Lane highlighted abuses of disabled parking and expressed concerns over confused drivers turning right into Carvel Lane from Terminus Road.
| | Issue/ Concern/ Suggestion. | Number Registered. |
| 1. | Parking Availability for Customers (and staff) | 25 |
| 2. | Parking Cost. | 17 |
| 3. | General Marketing, Promotion. (including Late Night Opening potential) | 16 |
| 4. | Directional Signage. | 10 |
| 5. | Pedestrianisation Issues and adherence | 7 |
| 6. | Loss of Tourist Information Office | 6 |
| 7= | Need to promote town to Coaches | 5 |
| 7= | Inconsistent Opening Hours from Businesses | 5 |
| 7= | Traffic Management Issues- Carvel Lane- Terminus Road | 5 |
| 7= | Access for Disabled (Esp. Dropped kerbs, Disabled Parking, Shop entrances) | 5 |
| 7= | Loading Restrictions and over-zealous parking enforcement | 5 |
| 11= | Need for Anchor Store | 4 |
| 11= | Business Rates | 4 |
| 13= | Business Rents | 3 |
| 13= | Issues relating to the management of IW Festival/ Bestival footfall | 3 |
| 13= | Perceived lack of partnership between Businesses and IW Council | 3 |
| 13= | Complaints regarding general policing | 3 |
| 17= | CCTV Extension | 2 |
| 17= | Competition from Businesses during Cowes Week (inc. Seafront Village) | 2 |
| 17= | Mobility Scooters and Cycles conflicting with High Street Pedestrians | 2 |
| 17= | Buses entering Cowes Pontoon | 2 |
| 17= | Need to review Residents Parking zones | 2 |
| 17= | Negative publicity from CBA and Cowes Town Council via County Press | 2 |
| 24= | Transparency of Cowes Town Councillors | 1 |
| 24= | Extend Park and Ride Provision | 1 |
| 24= | Public Transport Costs (Southern Vectis and Red Funnel) | 1 |
| 24= | Policing is very good in the town | 1 |
| 24= | More positive publicity required to promote Cowes for Young Families | 1 |
| 24= | Better Public Transport is needed to get residents into outlying areas | 1 |
| 24= | Litter | 1 |
| 24= | More public toilets are needed | 1 |
| 24= | Better weather needed! | 1 |
