Surgeries:
4:30-5pm,
Tuesday 3rd June, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm,
Tuesday 3rd June, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park
Rd, Cowes.
6-6:30pm,
Thursday 12th June, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
1-1:30pm,
Wednesday 18th June, The Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 18th June, Cowes
Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
6-6:30pm,
Thursday 26th June, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
4:30-5pm,
Tuesday 1st July, Cowes
Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm,
Tuesday 1st July, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park
Rd, Cowes.
Place Road Planning
Application for 90 dwellings: Update.
Planning Officers are still in the process of
drafting a recommendation for the above application. Following a suggested likely recommendation
for approval from Officers in May, further discussion has been necessary to
discuss with the applicant issues raised regarding the layout.
It is anticipated that the Planning Hearing
will take place on Tuesday 22nd
July. Once this date is agreed, I
will formally notify residents.
Confirmation of a likely recommendation will be made on 8th
July, whilst the report can be accessed from 15th July. In the
meantime, I continue to work with local residents, and other agencies to ensure
that the Planning Committee are left in no doubt as to local opinion on this.
Planning
Committee Report.
At the last Planning Committee, following a
deferral over concerns in dealing with overflow car parking the application for
a new hotel adjacent to Newclose Cricket
Ground was Approved by members.
Planning Committee also approved Planning
Applications to replace a newly built stable for new Holiday accommodation on
land adjacent to Barnsley Farm, Seaview;
a contemporary replacement home at Seagrove Bay also in Seaview and a community hub for Brighstone in the former Library.
Members recently received training in
‘Sequential Testing’ for retail units.
This follows confirmation being given for two alternative sites for
retail units on the outskirts of Newport.
The hearing for these applications is anticipated for 2nd July.
Other
Planning Matters Updated.
Proposals to develop on land at 2 Cliff Road, Cowes continues ‘under
negotiation’ with Planning Officers.
Officers consider proposals to have 3 dwellings on this site would be
‘overdevelopment’ of the site, despite no objection from neighbours, or Cowes Town Council.
Similarly at land on the Gurnard Primary School site, Hilton Road, Gurnard, I understand
discussions continue following proposals lodged to develop seven dwellings on
the site. Officers consider that the
size, scale and mass of the proposals would be excessive to the outline
application which was approved by Planning Committee.
Proposals to develop a retail unit on the
former Readers site in Place Road has been delayed following the pending
decision on the Newport applications.
Car
Parking Consultation.
Many thanks to residents who have commented
on proposals, these comments will be assessed by Leisure Services and the IW Council's Executive.
This is an important, timely and necessary
consultation which must fully gauge resident’s views.
From my experience, I know several members will want to find alternatives to increasing charges,
however because of the IW Council’s financial commitments particularly to Concessionary Fares and other transport associated commitments over the coming years- I sense certain increases (which
has been frozen for almost 7 years) is an inevitability.
|
Coastal
Protection.
Last month in Gurnard, I attended a meeting
with local residents to discuss reinstating frontages and repairing the sea
wall which has deteriorated over the last few years.
Should the wall be repaired, it is hoped this
will allow the lost footpath CS35 to be reinstated. I have been asked to find out whether funds
may be available from local Councils to assist. A further meeting will be
called in July.
Residents have also requested that I look
into the feasibility of creating a Flood Defence Plan following the threat from
coastal and river flooding earlier this year on Gurnard Marsh.
In the meantime repairs to coastal frontages
in Solent View Road continue. The work,
which include taking vehicles on to the beach for reinstating the frontage of
four different properties has been authorised by officers from the IW Council.
Coastal Path, Gurnard.
A number of residents have approached me to
request action to support reopening the coastal path between Gurnard and
Thorness. Subsequently, this month I
assisted in arranging a site visit between Rights Of Way Officers and Parish
Councillors to view erosion of the path.
This I hope will be followed up with a meeting between The Council,
Landowners and Parish Councillors
As I mentioned previously, the IW Council
does not have statutory powers to ensure the path is reinstated once made
unsafe, and the only way the diversion order could now be re-affirmed would be
through the good will of landowners.
Chronology: Gurnard Coastal Path CS16.
·
Spring
2013. To
preserve the long term existence of the path the Landowner offered Rights Of
Way the opportunity to divert the coastal footpath south of Chalets.
This
Diversion Order, supported by the IW Ramblers Association was referred to
Gurnard Parish Council for views.
·
July 2013. Gurnard
Parish Council suggested to accept the offer, but made a request on whether the
old footpath could remain open until it was deemed unfit for purpose.
·
September 2013. Because
landowners did not agree to keeping old path open, and due to receiving a
petition signed by over 180 named residents requesting retention of old path,
Gurnard Parish Council rejected the diversion order.
·
November 2013. Landowners
erected signage due to concerns raised by insurers over the safety of the
cliff.
· February 2014. Public Footpath was
assessed as dangerous by Rights Of Way, following being undermined by storms.
Consequently, existing path was closed owing to Health and Safety concerns
raised.
· Spring 2014. Offer to
divert the footpath was withdrawn.
Highways
Issues.
I am awaiting a response from Island Roads
regarding improving the street lighting now, in a number of areas. Of priority is Park Road, Mountbatten
Avenue and Albert Road.
In Shore
Road the Gas Main has now been capped with concrete, to allow at a later
date contractors from Southern Gas to repair and replace pipework.
Potholes have been fixed in Solent View Road and Ward Avenue- whilst I awaiting
confirmation from Island Roads on whether Ward
Avenue is likely to be resurfaced before Cowes Week (as suggested earlier
this year!)
Resurfacing of the footway in Crossfield Avenue was due to take place
last week- However, this had to be delayed as residents were given less than 24
hours to trim their frontages to enable this.
I have requested Island Roads to maintain IW
Council owned ground in King James Close. This land has been managed by residents
for a number of years and consideration may be given to sell this land which
lies at the end of the close that adjoins Winston Road
Grass was cut back shortly after being
requested in Gurnard who are anxious
to reclaim their title for best kept village.
At the moment, I remain in the process of
attempting to set up a meeting between Cowes IW Councillors and Island Roads to
pursue collectively ongoing matters in and around the town. As dates have not been circulated by Island
Roads.
Consultations:
Medina Valley Area Action Plan- Informal Discussion Document.
The council is preparing the Medina Valley
Plan, to recognise and address individual characteristics needs of each area.
The process for preparing such documents are set nationally but the council has
prepared this informal discussion document outside of the required formal
stages, to invite comments on its emerging thinking and the way in which it may
go forward in the next stages of the Medina Valley Plan process.
Some issues have been included because the
council covers a wide range of services. While the formal AAPs may not be able
to address these issues, the information gained will be shared with other areas
of the council where relevant. Because
Gurnard are undertaking their own Plan, this will run parallel to the Medina
Valley Plan.
This
Consultation (on-line, or through the library) continues until Monday 7th July. The online
link can be found below: http://www.iwight.com/azservices/documents/2787-AAP-Informal-Discussion-Document-Medina-Valley-FINAL.pdf
Southern
Water.
Residents will be aware that the combined
sewer where Worsley Road and Shore Road
meet has began leaking again.
I am attempting to discuss with Southern
Water what action they intend to take to repair the sewer (rather than in the
short term!), and at the same time will ask for an update on necessary repairs
to the Pumping Station, Gurnard
Green.
I am supporting residents within the
Crossfield Estate that are having issues regarding their combined sewage
outfalls. Residents have suffered from
difficulties, within the Estate and I intend to address these once a date to
meet with Southern Water has been agreed.
Island
Waste.
In the last few weeks, I’ve received several
complaints regarding the collection of organic and recycling waste being mixed
with normal household rubbish by Island Waste. I am advised that refuse ‘IS’ segregated, and should residents
have queries regarding this to let myself or the IW Council know, so this can
be fully investigated.
I also know from experience that organic bins
and food caddies do break. If this has occurred to you, please let me know and
I can ensure you receive a replacement.
If you suffer from mobility issues the IW
Council can arrange their your collection to suit your needs. If this is the case please call the IW
Council 821000 or alternatively, please let me know by calling: 289595.
Within the Crossfield Estate, I’ve received
ongoing complaints regarding Flytipping (perceived by residents as left by
commuters?) and complaints regarding remnants of litter being left behind,
after collection. Again I am monitoring
this and am hoping ongoing concerns are resolved. If this is an issue for you
please do not hesitate to let me know!
In
the Last Month: In a nutshell.
·
At
Full Council, I seconded outcomes presented by the Scrutiny Committee regarding
the public meetings with Cross Solent Operators. See Details via: http://www.iwight.com/Meetings/committees/mod-council/21-5-14/Paper%20B.pdf
·
As
a school governor, I have been involved with the staff restructuring at Cowes
Enterprise College. I know the focus on the school will
continue to raise standards and strive to be an outstanding school.
·
I
understand a parent was clipped by a motorist whilst collecting a child from
Gurnard School in Baring Road. I have
offered to support the police in taking action against the driver, who failed
to stop following the incident.
·
I
attended Gurnard’s May Queen Event, and supported Gurnard Parish Council
determining priorities for the transferral of services from the IW Council.
·
I
am due to meet with the Executive Member and Head of Planning this week to
discuss concerns raised over planning compliance and enforcement and raising
awareness through training for IW Councillors.
I am also discussing with Mr Murphy the need to involve more members as
deputies, when absence occurs within the Planning Committee.
·
I
continue to support residents affected by requests made by Empty Property
Officers and am assisting a resident that has issues evicting a tenant for
non-payment of rent.
·
I
met with street traders in Newport, and received a request from traders for
fees provided to the IW Council for businesses which trade within
pedestrianized areas.
·
I
am supporting residents within the Crossfield Estate that are having issues
regarding their combined sewage outfalls.
Residents have suffered from difficulties, within the Estate and I
intend to address these once a date to meet with southern Water has been set.
·
IW
Council land in Baring Road has been sold to a neighbour, who previously held a
Garden Licence to upkeep the land by way of a Garden Licence. I’m advised the land sold had no development
potential, because of site restrictions.
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