IW Councillors Report: August 2014

Surgeries:

6-6:30pm, Thursday 31^st July, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

10:30-11:30am, Tuesday 12^th August, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6:30pm, Thursday 28^th August, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 2^nd September,  Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 2^nd September, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

Place Road Planning Application: REFUSED.

Fantastic News!  The Application to develop 86 new homes between Place Road and Tuttons Hill, was refused by the Planning Committee 5 votes (Cllrs. Eccles, Hollis, Howe, Nicholson, Whitby-Smith) to 1, (Cllr. Barry) with 1 councillor (Cllr. Baker-Smith) abstaining. This decision was taken following advice from officers who recommended this application was approved.

Many thanks to all residents who made formal comments, protested and attended the hearing.  My grateful thanks to Greg Malone & Cllr Sean Harrison from Gurnard Parish Council for speaking so passionately at the hearing. The end result being worth the hard work that so many contributed towards.  Your hard work and dedication to our local community, (especially to those involved with the Gurnard Neighbourhood Plan) is very much appreciated!

The reason given for refusing the application, was Planning Committee members felt land between Place Road and Tuttons Hill was not felt to be ‘appropriate land’ given its intrinsic value as a green gap between Cowes and Gurnard.  This was outlined as being the most sustainable reason for turning this application down.

As with all Planning Applications that are refused, the applicant maintains the right to appeal against the Committee’s decision to the Planning Inspectorate.

My full transcript features in the special article below!

As ward councillor, I’m representing Cowes and Gurnard’s residents overwhelming opposition to this Planning Application.

Since 2011 residents have clearly put forward consistent and sustainable reasons why the Jordan Valley must be safeguarded as a wildlife corridor and strategic green gap between both communities.  Residents are conscious of the threat of settlement coalescence and some members of this Planning Committee will have seen how the settlement boundary and green gap continues to be nibbled away at by successive planning applications.

Contrary to the statement in Para 6.23, the watercourse that runs through this site is not the ‘Woodvale Stream’, it is in fact the River Jordan. When residents state they wish to see the Jordan Valley safeguarded they clearly see the Jordan Valley as the Green Gap that starts at Place Road and ends at Woodvale Road and encompasses all in-between.  Ask any resident of Gurnard, or resident living adjacent to this site, if you do not believe me!

This is reinforced by consultation through surveys, public meetings, Planning For Real Exhibitions, more surveys and most recently a Housing Needs Survey which resulted in a 60% response rate.  This evidence is robust because local residents want greater control in shaping their destiny through localism.

As a Planning Committee member for 11 years I don’t always agree with officers, and I do understand Governments presumption in favour of development.  However in this case, having read all 511 comments on-line, I know the recommendation for approval is overwhelmingly wrong! 

Since 1995, I’ve never seen a housing application that’s been opposed so vehemently.  If approved, what we will see is a new settlement being shoehorned into the strategic green gap separating Cowes from Gurnard.

I remind members of NPPF’s 12 overarching principles. In this instance most relevant are two principles, the first which empower local people to shape their surroundings, through local plans whilst the second protects the status of Green Gaps.

On access, there is reference to the capacity of the Roundhouse junction.  Of concern is the statement that there is no clear engineering solution to futureproof this junction.

No mention is made that the junction with Newport Road at Nodes Road, is at capacity, according to the MVAP Discussion Document. Why?

Furthermore, there is acceptance by officers that no consideration has been given to the redevelopment of the former Readers Site 200m south. Why?

What doesn’t feature in your report are the extensive studies undertaken by Gurnard’s Neighbourhood Plan Steering Committee. This evidence was reinforced by Cowes Town Council, which acknowledged some housing need, but went on to state that 91% residents felt the green gap between Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood is important should be protected.

In your report it is noted that brown field sites do exist, both in Gurnard and elsewhere within the Medina Valley. Surely this land and more ‘appropriate’ green field sites should be considered before developing on this green land?

A number of Gurnard’s Steering Committee has stated to me, what is the point of engaging on a one to one basis with residents, when Gurnard’s feedback is totally disregarded in favour of out of date evidence from seven years ago, and a desktop study!  These residents feel upset and very much let down by Planners who seemingly fail to acknowledge their efforts.

I know our officer’s decision is very much on balance.

Planning Committee members, will judge officers views with the feedback from our local community, particularly on whether any principle of development on this land is considered appropriate.

I ask members to support the hundreds of residents who feel this strategic green gap to be ‘not appropriate’, land within the context of SP1- Highlighted in Paragraph 6.22 of your report.

I ask that consideration is given to Cowes Town Council, Gurnard Parish Council, Northwood Parish Council, The CPRE, Islandwatch, the Island MP… Me, in supporting this land is ‘not appropriate’.

I ask members to consider localism, and do they want to see an application approved where there has been no engagement by the applicant with the community that will be impacted upon.

I ask that consideration is given to fact this application contradicts Gurnard’s Housing Needs Survey, it flies in the face of NPPF Policies relating to Local Empowerment, and protection of green gaps and finally the size and scale of this proposal, in this location is overkill.  

This IS an important application not only for Gurnard, but for Cowes and the wider community who have high expectations of localism and how we as Councillors embrace this and empower our communities. I therefore ask the Committee to REFUSE this application, due to it being contrary to Policy SP1, SP5 and DM13.

Cllr Paul Fuller, IW Councillor for Cowes West & Gurnard.  22^nd July 2014.

Worsley Road Development.

The decision notice for 15 dwellings at land rear of 44 Worsley Road has now been signed.  This means that work can now start on developing this site.

Planning Applications: Navitus Bay.

The Planning Inspectorate are in the process of considering the application to provide up to 194 (5,6 or 8MW) off-shore wind turbines 17.3km south of The Needles and 14.4km from Durlston Head, Dorset. The maximum tip height of the turbines would be 200m.

The applicant states if approved, the wind farm would produce energy equivalent to that used by 710,000 homes.

As consultee, The IW Council’s Planning Committee supported in principle the proposal. The Committee requested further information from the applicant on the potential impact upon noise and the ecology.   

Planning Applications: Asda and The Range.

Despite concerns by businesses, the Planning Committee approved use of two sites south of Newport for a new supermarket. 

Following this decision, the application for The Range, Place has been signed off.  This follows representations from Planners that objections raised by neighbours were not sustainable should the decision be appealed.

MP’s Surgery

I will join Andrew Turner MP who will be holding his Summer Surgery’s on the following dates:

11:45-12 noon, Tuesday 12^th August:  Village Clock, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

12:10-12:40pm, Tuesday 12^th August: Co-Op, Terminus Road, Cowes.

Coastal Access Act Update.

There has been some good news for ramblers.  DEFRA has now agreed to include the Isle of Wight in the Coastal Access Act.  I made comments on behalf of local residents back in 2012, which supported views of the Ramblers Association to include the Island. I am thrilled to bits the Coastal Path will receive the support now that it deserves!!

Many thanks to those residents who also campaigned to DEFRA for this!

Environmental Health Issues:

Bonfires.

With the hot days and warm evenings, I continue to receive phone calls from irate residents complaining about bonfires. In most cases they tend to be resolved following a quick telephone call.  In many cases neighbours, do not realise they are causing a problem until they are told about this!!

In Baring Road, last month I received calls from residents regarding bonfires.  This did cause some problems for residents of a nearby Residential Care Home, however following calls from Environmental Health these fires were extinguished…

Seagulls.

I’m advised by Environmental Health, that it has again been necessary for the IW Council to write to residents in Tilbury Road, Gurnard following complaints of gulls fouling on clean washing and cars.

The advice I received from the RSPB several years ago, when I last reported this was that it is helpful, if residents could acquire feed dispensers, rather than scatter waste food etc. These are helpful insofar as these discourage larger herring gulls who are a predatory and are a dominant species.

Highways: IW Councillors meeting with Island Roads.

Myself, Councillors. Nicholson and Peacey-Wilcox met with Island Roads last month.  Action Points from the meeting were:

·         The Traffic Management Plan for Cowes Week would be circulated to All Cowes Members & Town/ Parish Councils.

·         Island Roads were in the process of ensuring all existing Traffic Orders were legitimate. Therefore no new orders were likely to be implemented until March 2015.

·         Further discussion would take place between IW Councillors, Cowes Town Council, Cowes Business Association and Island Roads to reinstate the bollards in Cowes High Street. Island Roads were investigating the serviceability of the bollards. If there was an additional cost implication this would be referred back to the Town Council and Business Association.

·         The Gratings in Cowes High Street were being investigated, this follows them becoming corroded and filled.  These would be repaired, whilst the section between Fountain Quay and Terminus Road replaced this Autumn.

·         There continues to be an issue with responsibility over certain Grass Verges, these continue to be monitored and assessed.

·         Island Roads were working with Scaffolders to ensure best practice was followed.   

Sea Wall Maintenance, Gurnard.

In the last few weeks, both myself and the IW Council have received calls regarding works being undertaken on the beach between Gurnard Sailing Club and Gurnard Marsh.

Earlier this year a number of Solent View Road residents did let me know that work was due to take place to repair sea frontages, which became damaged during winter storms.   These residents did advise that this maintenance had received necessary consents from the IW Council’s Coastal Protection department and from Park and Beaches.  

Since receiving calls, I understand the work continues to be monitored by officers.  

In the last month.

·         I’ve attended Full Council, 2 Planning Committee Meetings (and site visits), 2 Exec. Advisory Committees (Children’s Service and Adult Health/ Community Wellbeing) and the latest meeting of the IW Association of Local Councils

·         I’ve requested dropped kerbs to be considered for Park Road.  Funding for this may be accessed through the Highways Contingency Fund.

·         A second meeting with Marsh Road residents was held.  Flood Defence Information will be circulated to householders, whilst a grant to repair and reinstate the seawall at Marsh Road has been applied for.

·         I responded to the consultation for local Area Action Plan. My response can be found at paulfullercc.blogspot.com

·         Gurnard Parish Council are arranging a meeting with the landowners to discuss the future of the coastal path.

·         Parks & Beach are due to replace signage prohibiting dogs off leads on Gurnard Beach.

·         The police have offered to step up patrols on Gurnard Beach following complaints from residents.

·         I’ve received training on loans and investments that the IW Council undertakes, as a member of the Audit Committee, received training on school transport, Emergency Planning and helped organise the Annual Planning Site Visit for members of the Planning Committee.  

·         Cowes Town Council will consider a new litter bin for Blackberry Lane, following funding being unavailable via the IWC.

·         Whitepit Lane will have a new off-licence following a Licencing Committee I attended.  The objector failed to appear!!

·         I’ve taken up concerns raised over the transferral of the freehold at Cowes Enterprise College to Ormiston Academies Trust, with IW Council leader Cllr. Ian Stephens.