Surgeries:
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 1st July, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 1 July, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes
6-7:30pm, Tuesday 8 July, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes
(Place Road Planning Application Information Evening)
3:30-4:30pm, Wednesday 9 July, The Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.
(Coastal Protection/ Flooding Issues meeting)
6-6:30pm, Thursday 10th July, The Woodvale,
Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 16th
July, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
1-1:30pm, Wednesday 23rd July, The Little
Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.
6-6:30pm, Thursday 31st July, The Portland,
Worsley Road, Gurnard.
10:30-11:30am, Tuesday 12th August, Cowes
Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
Place
Road Planning Application.
I am holding a Councillors Surgery from 6-7:30pm on Tuesday 8th July, which will update residents on the
Planning Hearing scheduled for 22nd
July. This date will coincide with
confirmation from Planning Officers, on what the likely recommendation will be
for members of the Planning Committee.
Last month there was a ‘minor modification’
to the proposal where the layout has altered slightly with the number of
dwellings falling from 90 to 87.
Because of the importance of
this application, and preparation required to reflect local residents concerns
to the Planning Committee this will take priority for me over all other ward
issues this month.
Other
Planning Applications.
Since my last report there has been two
meetings of the Planning Committee.
The first meeting refused an application to
develop between woodland and properties in Kite
Hill, Fishbourne. This was refused
because it was felt the proposed dwelling would be out of scale with
neighbouring properties.
At the same meeting the Planning Committee
granted permission to allow the Taverners
Pub in Godshill to offer a site for a market for one day a week on their
car park, and the same for the Griffin
on one other day.
The second Planning Committee has been set
aside to determine two retail
applications for Newport, and will be determined by the Planning Committee
on Wednesday 2nd July. Both
applications are recommended for approval.
Rights
Of Way- Update from the Local Access Forum:
It was reported at the last Forum meeting
that Landslips are continuing, with
four landslips occurring within the last two months, which have affected Rights
Of Way. The IW Council are anxious not
to commence remedial work until land has dried out and the land has stabilised. Of concern was the view that it could take up
to 3 years to repair the damage caused by winter storms.
As yet there is no news from DEFRA regarding
including the Isle of Wight’s Coastal Path within the Coastal Access and Maritime Act.
Because of Safety and to
improve timings, Network Rail are intending to close all Railway Crossings within 5 years.
That stated, Network Rail has not been given powers to close public
rights of way, and within the 8 crossings on the Island options are being
explored.
Other Issues discussed include a consultation
on ensuring dogs are kept on leads
at St Helens Duver, a request made by a national cycling organisation CTC to allow cycling on public footpaths and
news that the Sunshine Trail between
Shanklin had been extended and tarmacked to Yarborough Road, Wroxall, whilst
resurfacing had taken place on the coastal
path between Ladies Walk and Quarr Lane, Binstead.
Local
Rights Of Way: An Update.
430 signatures were gathered requesting
action being taken to reopen the coastal path between Gurnard and Thorness.
Since I received a petition from 417 residents, I understand a further 13
residents have added their names. Many
thanks to Paul Schofield, local businesses and those who signed the petition
this demonstrates the importance of keeping this footpath open!
With Gurnard Parish Council, I am awaiting a
response from landowners following Gurnard’s resolution to meet at June’s
meeting, to discuss options which may result in reopening the footpath CS16 following the landslip East of
Cook’s Bay.
With respect to the other section of the
footpath closed at the Thorness end of the path CS17, I understand that ground movement continues to be monitored,
and once land dries out and conditions stabilise this path can reopen, with
fences replaced etc.
Elsewhere, I have been meeting with residents
from Marsh Road, who are seeking to replace the seawall, which may result in
reopening footpath CS35, between
Gurnard Luck and the bottom of Solent View Road. Further discussions will take place at a
special meeting which I have called for 3:30pm,
Thursday 9th July at the
Little Gloster, Gurnard.
Island
Roads.
Ward
Avenue. I continue to have
discussions with Island Roads over when Ward Avenue will be resurfaced. Initially, it was suggested this could take
place towards the end of July- However, following discussions with residents it
was considered more appropriate to for the resurfacing to take place in
September.
The main concerns raised included disrupting
the coach park during the summer holidays, and the concern that work, could
over-run and conflict with Cowes Week.
With fellow Cowes IW Councillors, a meeting
is due to take place with Island Roads next week. Issued to be discussed includes arrangements
for Cowes Week, Traffic Regulation Orders, The Road Resurfacing Programme, Street
Lighting, Grass Verges and potentially cycling in
Cowes High Street.
In the meantime, I will be attempting to
arrange a Residents Drop-In during
September/ October.
Medina
Valley Area Action Plan.
I know that both Cowes Town and Gurnard
Parish Council have made representations to the IW Council’s Informal
Discussion Document on the Plan.
I am currently working my way through the 48
questions, and will post my formal response on-line once this is complete
before Monday 7th July.
Issues which I will be suggesting includes
the protection of the Green Gaps between Cowes and Gurnard.
·
Notably
the Jordan Valley, between Place Road, Baring Road, Woodvale Drive and Worsley
Road.
·
Dormers
Copse and Land south of Princes Esplanade, Gurnard and Egypt Esplanade, Cowes.
·
The
Luck Valley between Cockleton Lane, Marsh Road and Rew Street.
I
am also suggesting:
· The
settlement boundary is amended from the rear of the building line on the
western section of Place Road to follow the Cowes Town/ Gurnard Boundary in the
centre of Place Road. (Thank you Cllr
Mark McNeill for this suggestion!)
·
The
settlement boundary is removed in totality from Gurnard
·
Careful
consideration is given to what is meant by immediately adjacent to the
settlement boundary, and how far this can extend.
Other
areas, I will be requesting to be safeguarded in Cowes West include:
·
Land
west of Churchill Road, Cowes (Old Reservoir?)
·
Westwood
Park, Reynolds Close, Cowes.
·
Sports
Field, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
·
The
Green, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
·
Cowes
Golf Club, Crossfield Avenue Cowes.
·
Grass
Verges in and opposite Magdalen Crescent, Cowes.
·
Mornington
Wood and Mornington Green, Mornington Road, Cowes.
·
Northwood
Park, Ward Avenue, Cowes.
·
Land
adjacent and north of Blackberry Lane, Cowes.
Waste
Collection.
Following complaints received last month
concerning litter being left behind, by contractors on Thursdays there has been
an improvement.
I have since met with residents, who have
requested that a rubbish bin is located in Blackberry Lane following a recent
increase in litter being left on the route between Rashley’s, Cowes Primary
School, Cowes Enterprise College and the wider Crossfield Estate.
I have discussed this and have promised to
write a report for Cowes Town Council’s Town Improvement Committee seeking
their support!
IW
Council Appointments.
I have recently been appointed to three of
the Council’s four Executive Advisory Committees. This follows me leaving the IW Council’s
Scrutiny Committee due to meetings coinciding with Cowes Town Council.
The Executive Advisory Committees have been
set up to assist in formulating IW Council Policy, and (I hope), will enable
greater participation and involvement from stakeholders and user groups. The Committees that I have joined are the Childrens EA Committee, The Adult Services EA Committee and the Environment & Public Protection EA
Committee. Last month, I deputised
for a member of the Economy &
Tourism EA Committee.
I also remain a member of the Audit
Committee, Planning Committee and Licensing Committee.
In a nutshell issues raised last month:
Economy
& Tourism Executive Advisory Committee:
David Thornton and Simon Dabell from Visit
Isle of Wight Ltd, gave a presentation to members regarding the Isle of Wight’s
Destination Management Plan. The purpose
of this plan would promote the the Island’s Economy through Tourism, and plan
the infrastructure required.
It was reported that the 2.8m visitors who come
to the Isle of Wight is worth £260m to the local economy directly and £520m
indirectly. It was noted that the Island
lags behind visitors on their spend per night, and there was a need to tailor
experiences and re-invent experiences to cater for the growing market of
‘active holidays’, for 50+ adults.
Recent successful campaigns included
marketing the Isle of Wight as ‘England In A Nutshell’ campaigns in China and
publicity through the India Times. It
was reported that VisitIsleofWight.com is the most visited local website on
line with 180,000 hits in May, and this figure still consistently growing.
Environment
& Public Protection Executive Advisory Committee:
I made a request for the Advisory Committee
to investigate researching a better means to address cross-over issues between
agencies relating to Flood Defence matters, and the need for there to be better
interaction between Councillors, Southern Water and the Environment Agency.
Members learnt that there was a need to
implement a Community Highways Fund, to progress over 500 requests for
outstanding minor capital schemes.
It was also agreed to set up an Informal and
Cross-Party E&PP’s meeting to prioritise Community Fund Requests and
comment to the Executive on the Area Action Plan Consultation.
Also
this month:
·
Concerns
were raised regarding overcrowded and cancelled buses (esp. in Cowes!). Southern Vectis reported this was an issue,
due to the DVLA not processing licenses before the summer timetable.
·
Following
parental concerns raised by me regarding the use of electronic cigarettes on
school transport, Southern Vectis has
now rethought its policy and banned use on all services.
·
It
has again been necessary to liaise with Southern Vectis and Island Roads
regarding diversion of the Community Bus.
The Managing Director has now taken this matter up, and (at last) there
seems to be progress. I will continue to
chase!
·
There
are Teachers Strikes scheduled for 10th July. A I am advised that at no schools locally are
due to close… At the moment. Please
watch this space!
·
Another
uphill battle. A grass verge outside
Dottens Farm will now be cut by Island Roads!
·
I’ve
received a number of emails, and have met with residents concerned by a Planning
Application for a storage facility on land west of properties in Rew Street.
·
A
meeting has taken place to consider the disposal of the former school playing
field and orchard site in Gurnard. The
IW Council has offered this at a peppercorn rent to Gurnard Parish
Council. The Council are due to consult
with residents over this.
·
Overhanging
hedges have been reported in Baring Road, Cockleton Lane, Place Road and
Winding Way.
·
The
Planning Committee will be undertaking their Annual Site Visit in the coming
weeks. I have suggested Councillors
visit Solent Shores in Princes Esplanade(!)
·
I’m
advised Superfast Broadband has now arrived in parts of Gurnard. Precisely where I don’t know, but I’m hoping
to find out soon!
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