Councillors Report: May

Surgeries:

1-1:30pm, Wednesday 16^th May, Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

3-3:30pm, Wednesday 16^th May, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 22^nd May, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 29^th May, Cowes Library, 12-13 Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 29^th May, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Thursday 7^th June, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 12^th June, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

3-3:30pm, Wednesday 20^th June, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

1-1:30pm, Wednesday 27^th June, Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

Planning Applications: Worsley Road, Gurnard.

A Planning Application has been submitted to create 33 dwellings on land adjacent to, and to the rear of 44 Worsley Road in Gurnard.

From Gurnard’s perspective this is a significant application, and I’ve undertaken a widespread consultation with residents.  The deadline for representations falls on 18^th May, whilst Gurnard Parish Council will consider the application during their Annual Meeting on Tuesday 15^th May. 

Planning Enforcement.

There is on-going discussions regarding compliance matters on the former Rookstone and Brambles sites in Egypt Hill.  Meanwhile also in Egypt Hill, I’ve requested the Planning Compliance Officer investigates issues to extend the Moorings.

In Mornington Mews, I am once again chasing up soft landscaping which was agreed as part of the conditions for this development.

In Baring Road, it has been necessary to contact the police following complaints lodged over dangerous parking by tradesmen at Essex House.

In Ward Avenue, a legal agreement relating to ancillary accommodation was due to be debated by the Planning Committee this week.

In Gurnard, I’ve sought intervention over a metal slipway that has been partily constructed on Shore Path, and I’ve requesting that trading from a premises in Rew Street is looked into following complaints from neighbours.

Wheelie Bins.

In the last few weeks, I’ve received a number of complaints from residents who are finding the wheelie bins supplied by the Isle of Wight Council too large and cumbersome.

I have passed on all complaints, and am hoping these can be overcome by one to one discussions between the Council and residents affected.  I know that in many of these instances that residents could very well be entitled to smaller bins or back door collections.

In the meantime, I request that residents contact me if they continue to experience difficulties.

Cold Calling.

I received three separate complaints from residents in Ward Avenue and within the Crossfield Avenue Estate about hard-sell cold calling from the World Wildlife Fund.

Because charities can cold call in no cold calling zones I reported this to the WWF, and was advised action would be taken against the representatives.

Because of these complaints, The WWF has advised me they would avoid calling in such areas on the Island.

Gurnard Pre-School.

I met with neighbours, to listen to concerns over disabled & pedestrian access and safety from Cow Lane.

I understand from the Planning Department these concerns are shared by the Pre-School, and a suggestion has been made to provide a disabled access via the main school entrance on Baring Road.

Debourne Manor Drive.

I am meeting residents in Debourne Manor Drive who have been campaigning for some time to get their drive repaired.  This road is privately owned and I have spoken to the owner who has confirmed this will happen. In the coming weeks I’m attending a meeting with the roads owner with residents to ensure timescales to repair the road can be agreed.  In the meantime since speaking to the owner I have noted some of the pot-holes have been filled.

Southern Water.

I have been asked to intervene on two issues concerning Southern Water. 

The first matter relates to the closure of a Public Slipway in Cowes during Easter.  The timescales slipped due to the Water Company not being able to fix the problem with their pump, due to the availability of spare parts…(?!); Subsequently the slipway could not open until the first week of May. I believe this was unacceptable and I’ve requested the IW Council brings pressure to bear in the future to ensure public slipways are closed no longer than necessary.

The second matter relates to a long-standing broken combined rainfall and sewage main in Shore Road.  I have contacted the IW Council to ask for the blockage to be cleared, and following this will be making representations for Southern Water to ensure a longer term solution to repairing this main occurs.

Gurnard Former School Site.

With representatives from Gurnard Parish Council, I met with children from Gurnard School who are excited by proposals to bring the former school site into Community Ownership last month.   Proposals put forward for the site includes the creation of allotments, whilst maintaining both the orchard and part of the school playing field for community use.

This week, I arranged a meeting between the Gurnard Parish Council and the Isle of Wight Council in the hope the IW Council would release the former site to the community.  Despite the Parish Council making (what I felt) a substantially fair offer for the former playing field and orchard, the local authority now considers it appropriate to dispose of these sites on the open market. 

This we were told was necessary because other offers have been made. Disappointed though we were that these sites would not now be ‘given or offered’ to the community, we have been reassured that the IW Council will be imposing a legal restriction on these sites to be maintained as they are currently.  This would restrict any future housing or development on this land, and restrict development potential or value to this land.  Once marketed, this would allow the Parish Council to resubmit an offer.

In the last month: 

·         Last month I delivered my Annual Report for 2012 to most households in my ward. This year I am also delivering reports residents who have off-island addresses.

·         I’ve received representations from both supporters and objectors connected to wind turbine applications adjacent to Betty Haunt Lane and Noke Common.

·         I am involved in two neighbourhood disputes one in Rew Street and another in Place Road.

·         I’m pleased to report there has been fewer instances of Graffiti in the past month and am grateful to both the police and Environment Officer, Neil Perry for reacting to complaints.  Following my article written in Gurnard News, I’ve received further complaints over criminal damage caused by people endeavouring to light fires.

·         I have received complaints from Beach Hut owners over recent increases in rents/ fees for owners.  I am ever-grateful to the research being undertaken by Beach Hut Owners, which will assist me in making a strong case on behalf of residents urging a rethink on the IW Councils proposals.

·         I hope to be appointed to the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee following the departure of Cllr Whittle from the Independent Group. Discussions continue in relation to the structure of both the Planning and Licensing/ General Purposes Committees which looks set to merge into one Quasi-Judicial Regulatory Committee in the coming months.  

·         I continue to receive complaints regarding the construction of the Cowes Enterprise College.  Ive asked The IW Council to take steps to repair damage to the road whilst I’ve also asked that wheels are washed before leaving the construction site. 

·         I’ve attended the Blyskawica Commemoration and supported Gurnard Parish Council’s Neighbourhood Plan Exhibition at the recent May Day Celebration.