IW Councillors Report, January 2015.

Surgeries.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 6^th January, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

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

3-3:30pm, Wednesday 14^th January, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Thursday 29^th January, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 3^rd February, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 3^rd February, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

Planning Appeals: Place Road.

I’ve circulated a letter to adjoining residents advising that an appeal is pending against the refused application to develop land between Tuttons Hill and Place Road.  A further letter will be circulated, and a meeting called once timescales have been established and the appeal validated.

Once this occurs, there will be a further opportunity for interested parties to comment.  This consultation period will last for 5 weeks, and residents will be formally notified by the IW Council of any further information that is required.

It seems likely that the appeal itself will be made under the written representations procedure, this means that it is unlikely that the Planning Inspectorate will consider it appropriate to initiate a formal hearing. However, following the 5 week consultation a site visit will take place. It is anticipated the decision will take six months from validation.

Please contact me if I can provide any support. Please note that further information on the appeal process can be found at: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/taking-part_planning-written.pdf

Planning Appeals: Gurnard Primary School site, Cockleton Lane.

The first Planning Application to develop on the Gurnard Primary School, which was taken to Appeal, was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate.

However, the scaled down application which was supported by planning officers remains in place.

High Astronomical Tide Warning.

The Environment Agency has warned of high tides for January 22^nd and 23^rd, and for February 20^th and 21^st.  On these dates it is anticipated that the tides will be between 7 and 14cm higher than usual, however if low pressure weather conditions result this may result in an additional 40cm surge.

Letters notifying this will be circulated to properties in flood risk areas.

Cowes Community Bus.

The Saturday service for the Cowes Community Bus has been cut, following Southern Vectis no longer providing this on an ex gratia basis.

With the possibility of further cutbacks to the Service, in line with other non-statutory services this year, I intend discussing opportunities to sustain our bus for the longer term with Parish and Town Council colleagues.

Consultations: Secondary School and Post 16 Education

The consultation on proposals for Secondary School and Post 16 provision as reported last month has not gone out to public consultation, this follows a call-in by Councillors.  Once agreement has been found on how this consultation takes place and what options are suggested, the Council will be in a position to move forward.

Consultations: Highway Amenity Permissions Policy.

As referred to in previous reports is the consultation on Tables & Chairs, A-Boards and other objects which can be placed on the highway.  This will provide the ability for the IW Council to better regulate items. For details visit: http://www.iwight.com/azservices/documents/1226-IWC-Highways-Permissions-Policy-Draft-for-Consultation.pdf.

The deadline for comments is Friday 16^th January.

Gritting Routes.

During the Christmas Holidays, I received a large number of calls concerning Gritting Routes.

In Cowes (West) these are: Place Road, Park Road, Ward Avenue, Baring Road and Crossfield Avenue, whilst in Gurnard these are: Woodvale Road, Shore Road, Worsley Road and Tuttons Hill.

If you are concerned that Gritting/ Salting has not taken place, please let me know so I can chase this up!  Alternatively, Island Roads can be contacted 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week on 822440.

Baring Road, Safe Routes To School..

A meeting is due to take place with Kevin Burton from Island Roads and a representative from Gurnard Primary School’s Governing Body at 1pm, Friday 9^th January.  Please can any representative from Gurnard Parish and Cowes Town Council let me know, if they wish to attend.

In the last month, Locally:

• ·         The pot hole at the top of Church Road was filled following me chasing this following Gurnard’s Parish Council meeting.
• ·         I requested Island Roads to take action following concerns over the slippery road surface in Tuttons Hill.
• ·         With residents, I met with Andrew Turner MP to resolve complaints concerning bonfires.
• ·         Southern Water has installed new air vents at the Woodvale Pumping Station.  Southern Water has been provided with further information concerning lifting manhole covers whilst a reassurance has been provided that next spring the Pumping Station will be repainted.
• ·     Island Road intervention was necessary following the high number spectators from vehicles viewing activities relating to the grounded Hoegh Osaka.on the Bramble Bank. This was necessary following complaints received from local residents unable to access properties in Egypt Esplanade and Queens Road.
• ·         I’ve received further complaints concerning litter deposited on Gurnard Green.  Like Queens Road last month this continues to be monitored.
• ·         Complaints were lodged to Island Roads following pedestrian access being restricted by utility contractors at the Roundhouse junction.
• ·         I’ve taken up concerns raised regarding traffic delays at Parkhurst following utility works prior to the Christmas break.
• ·         I met with the Youth MP, and provided support for the Youth Councils votes@16 campaign.

In the last month within my Executive Position:

• ·         Attended a meeting with Brighstone Parish Council, and am addressing the Council’s concerns with Planning Officers.
• ·         Am assessing budgetary options within Planning and Licensing.
• ·         I am supporting Brading Town Council on options which may result in a delay on the referendum on their Neighbourhood Plan which follows new Government guidelines on Affordable Housing.
• ·         Have requested enforcement action following non-compliance of conditions at Lake.
• ·         Met with residents concerned with Pop-Up restaurants and referred these issues to their local Councillor.
• ·         I met with the Building Control Officer, and learnt about some of the challenges his team faces.
• ·         At the Planning Committee members supported (8 votes to 1) an application to provide a new dwelling on Whitcombe Road, Carisbrooke, whilst Councillors supported officers recommendation to refuse (5 votes to 4) the development of two wind turbines on land at Camp Hill. Pakhurst. Although this vote seemed quite close, several members wanted to see a further objection raised which related to the perceived adverse impact the wind turbines were likely to have upon local residents.
• ·         Following an Urgent Works Notice being issued in August, works will begin to restore Cowes’ iconic Hammerhead Crane in March. The works will mainly see the corroded sections of steel from the crane’s tower replaced, with all new steel receiving a coat of paint and will be funded in Partnership with English Heritage. I wish to place on record my thanks to the volunteers from the Hammerhead Crane Trust and to Cllr Peacey-Wilcox for their tireless efforts on this!