Surgeries.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 5th November,
Cowes Library, 12-14 Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 5th November,
Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11am, Thursday 7th November,
Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
5-6pm, Wednesday 13th November,
The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
5-6pm, Tuesday 19th November,
Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11am, Thursday 28th November,
Coffee & Chat, All Saints Church, Gurnard.
12-12:30pm,
Thursday 28th November, Eegons Cafe, 72 High Street, Cowes.
Cowes Traffic Orders.
Earlier than I anticipated, these new orders
are in-situ in Baring Road, Woodvale Road and Crossfield Avenue.
In response, to free
up parking space I have again requested that contractors working at Gurnard
Primary School and The Dottens are adhering in full to the Construction
Management Plan.
Whilst recognising restrictions
can be irritating for some parents dropping off and collecting children, the
reasons for their need was purely to improve the safety of children following a
number of traffic related incidents outside the school.
Flu Jabs: News for Cowes
Medical Centre Patients.
Flu vaccinations are free for
over 65’s, patients with long term conditions, if you are pregnant, or a carer.
Flu Jabs can be provided during
a consultation, by booking an appointment on 294902, or for residents signed up
for online services at cowesmedicalcentre.com.
It is best for appointments to be booked before the end of November. It is easy to do, as there is no waiting in a
queue.
Winter Is Coming! Support from The Footprint
Trust.
The Footprint Trust offers free home visits to look for ways in which
to reduce fuel and water costs. In some cases The Footprint Trust can provide
new cookers, fridges and washing machines to those in greatest need. The
Trust, and advice offered can save households £100’s. For details visit: http://www.footprint-trust.co.uk/projects.html
or call 01983 822282.
TOP
TIPS.
·
Check
you are on the best energy deal.
·
Ask
about the Warm Home Discount
·
Go
onto the Priority Service Register if you have a vulnerable person in your
home.
·
Keep
heating in your Living Space between 18C and 21C
·
Lag
your water pipes.
·
Call
0800 027 0800 and ask about the Watersure Tariff, if you have a disability or
high water usage due to illness
·
Make
sure your torch is charged, and you have spare batteries.
·
Wrap
up warm. Wear thick socks indoors.
·
Keep
a supply of tinned and non-perishable goods in case extreme weather prevents
you from shopping.
·
Make
sure you have enough medicine; Don’t leave re-ordering to the last minute
·
Keep
important phone numbers on your fridge.
MONEY
SAVING TIPS.
£30
per person could be
saved by taking a four minute shower
£35
could be saved by
having your home draught-proofed.
£80 per degree could be saved by turning
down your thermostat
£150 could be saved by having home cavity
wall insulated.
£170 could be saved by installing loft
insulation in your home.
Further
information on the Warm Up Wight Scheme offering free loft and cavity wall
insulation can be found here: http://www.warmupwight.co.uk/,
or by callin 01983 472805.
St. Mary’s Junction.
I
attended the public information evening requested at Medina Theatre last
month.
Proposals
for Phase 3 and Phase 4, which will take place between 4th November
and 20th December include:
·
Forest
Road two-way.
·
Outside
lane on approach to St Mary’s roundabout from Cowes closed.
·
Outside
lane of dual carriageway northbound (towards Cowes) closed.
·
Inside
lane of St Mary’s roundabout closed.
·
Right-hand
lane from B&Q roundabout to St Mary’s roundabout closed.
Meeting with District
Steward.
·
IW Community Club, Park Road. Consideration
to extend double yellow lines to include the Bus Stop opposite the entrance.
This would improve site lines of oncoming traffic and traffic accessing the club.
·
Worsley Road/ Church Road junction. Vegetation currently impeding sight lines
would be cut back to 0.6m, and managed by Island Roads. If this fails to improve visibility and
safety, double yellow lines would be considered losing 2-3 car parking spaces
outside Bucklers View.
·
Worsley Road/ Glen Place junction. Island
Roads to contact the planners concerning the need for the approved splayed
junction. If this was not possible a
site meeting would be needed with the street superviser to consider options,
which may include the loss of two parking spaces at the junction.
·
Worsley Road, south of Gurnard
Press. Vegetation to be cut back to 0.6m to
enable motorists to park hard against kerb.
If this does not resolve issues, the street superviser would recommend
suggestions.
·
Church Road/ Tilbury Road. A complaint was received concerning extending
the length of double yellow lines following resurfacing. It was found, that previously lines were not
compliant with the Traffic Order.
·
Crossfield Avenue resurfacing. Following concerns raised over the
deteriorating condition of the road, I have formally requested 6 monthly
inspections of this road.
·
Egypt Hill Bus Stop opposite The
Moorings. A request has been made to provide a barrier,
at the bus stop. This is due to the
gradient. Both the Moorings and other
agencies would be sought for grant funding.
·
Rew Street surface water and
drainage. A further meeting is due to take place
on site to consider options to alleviate the volume of standing surface water
on Rew Street.
·
Street lighting in Albert Road was discussed, and is being
monitored. This follows a light being
damaged, removed and not replaced many years ago. With the potency of new lighting, I’ve
requested improvements.
Also….
·
Extra
parking has been created in Cross Street
Car Park following removal of recycling bins earlier this year.
·
I have been supporting residents of Rolls Hill concerned about speeding
traffic, concerns have been fed back to the police.
·
Parked
boats and trailers have been
reported for alleged non-roadworthiness compliance in various locations.
·
Fly-Tipping
has been reported in Shore Road, Nodes Road and Crossfield Avenue. With
respect to Shore Road, this continues to be reported both to Island Roads and
the Environment Officer, as animals split the bags open spreading food waste.
On this, action continues.
·
Contrary
to popular belief I am advised that there are no exemptions in place allowing
certain residents to travel the wrong way along Church Road in Cowes.
·
Ponding outside The Dottens in Baring Road has been reported.
·
I
have requested action to monitor and assess drainage which surfaces at the
bottom of Woodvale Road.
·
Concerns
have been raised by non Blue Badge Holders parking in Disabled Bays. I have been asked support disabled motorists, who
currently rely upon able-bodied drivers being courteous keeping bays clear..
·
I
have been approached following damage being attributed to Cow Lane
·
An
approach has been made over future sponsorship of the Somerton Roundabout
·
I
have reported residents concerns over the Advertising
Board, which last month appeared at the County Showground. Concerns have been forwarded following drivers
reporting this is distracting on a stretch of road, where traffic incidents are
commonplace.
·
I
continue to receive emails of support, as well as opposition to overnight
parking restrictions during Cowes Week on Egypt Esplanade.
·
I
have requested that the condition of a retaining
wall close to the junction with Baring Road in Crossfield Avenue is monitored and appropriate action taken to make
the wall safe.
·
I
have requested the emptying of overfilled
dog bins in Northwood Recreation Ground.
In response it is noted that despite the bin being overfilled, bins
nearby had space to accommodate the bags filled with poo.
Planning
Applications.
Following
feedback, I have called in two planning applications to be considered by the
Planning Committee these being the application to extend Bucklers View, Gurnard. The
grounds cited include whether the size, scale and density and how this
mitigates and enhances the entrance into the village.
The
other application at 28 Albert Road,
Gurnard, I’ve cited how the application for flats conform with the roads street
scene, concerns raised on density, parking its impact upon the amenity of
neighbours and finally how proposals reflect the housing needs for local
people.
On
both these applications, my request will need to be considered by planning
officers and the Planning Chairman on whether our objections would be
sustainable as a refusal on appeal.
The
other application which I am scrutinising is the proposal for ancillary tourist
accommodation in Ward Avenue.
Is Coastal Management
Effective?
Myself,
Lora Cowes Mayor and several other residents, business people and those with an
active interest in the coastline attended a very proactive presentation which
was hosted by enthusiastic 11 and 12 year olds at Cowes Enterprise
College.
It is my hope that closer work and support
between students and Cowes Enterprise can take place in advance of future Shoreline
Management Plans.
Winter Gritting
Routes.
This
year Island-wide there will be a reduced winter gritting service. This largely affects rural areas, with the
Newbridge, Wellow and Thorley road and Military Road no longer gritted during
winter conditions.
With
imminent works at St Mary’s Roundabout the road from Pallance Road to Shalfleet
and Whitehouse Road will be gritted due to the uplift of vehicles using this route
to and from Newport. Details can be found at: http://www.islandroads.com/27-winter-service-.html
Police Meeting.
Alongside
other Councillors, I attended a meeting with the police. Items discussed
included police resources, traffic enforcement, non-visible policing,
technology.
One
issue that came from the meeting is the importance of on-line reporting of
offences to the police. This is
considered to be the quickest means of reporting incidents. For details, visit: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/
New
volunteers are needed to for Community Speedwatch to train and assist
monitoring speeding traffic. Please
contact Lora Peacey Wilcox for details
at Tel: 01983 64576 or email lora08@sky.com
Parking Fines and
Penalty Charge Notices.
I
receive a number of calls concerning challenging parking fines. What I always advise residents that to
challenge the issuing of a ticket, it needs to be demonstrated that a ticket
was issued ‘unfairly’.
There
are a number of helpful websites which also support and offer advice. One’s which I regularly use are Citizens
Advice https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/parking-tickets/
(Tel: 03 444 111 444) and Money Saving Expert https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/
Solent Forum.
At
the Solent Forum, a report was provided on how dredging material was being used
to safeguard erosion of marshland, mud flats and salt marshes east of Hurst
Spit in the western Solent.
At
the meeting a presentation was given on the decline of the fishing industry and
its importance to the Selsey community.
Brexit.
Accepting
that Brexit didn’t happen as was anticipated last month… I have continued to
put pressure upon the Isle of Wight Council to be prepared.
In
response the IW Council provided Councillors with a briefing on how Adult
Social Services, Children Services, Staffing, Regulatory and Environmental
Services and Business/ Economic Development are preparing for when we leave the
EU. Evidently, much of this work was going on behind the scenes without
councillors knowledge.
Since
the uncertainty of a No Deal Brexit has for the timebeing vanished, so too has
some residents concerns. However, with a
new parliament due to be elected within the coming months the only certainty seems
that uncertainty will continue…until our MP’s make up their collective minds!
Floodlighting, Cowes
Enterprise College.
I
have put two households in touch with Cowes Enterprise College concerned about
the floodlighting spillage onto properties in Ward Avenue and Baring Road. I am
hopeful with the intervention of floodlighting specialists that disturbance
will be restricted.
Waste and Recycling.
One
of the most common questions that I am asked is about is what items can and
cannot be recycled, This information can be accessed at: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Waste-and-Recycling/
Probably
easier to remember are those items that cannot be recycled. These are:
·
Nappies
|
·
Sanitary
items
|
·
Bubble
wrap
|
·
Cling
film
|
·
Blister
strips (from pills)
|
·
Polystrene
|
·
Cold
ash
|
·
Pet
food pouches
|
·
Sweet
wrappers
|
·
Contaminated
Paper/ foil
|
·
Pet
Litter
|
·
Ceramic
items
|
Please
rinse bottles, tins, food containers and cartons so that they are empty and
clean. P.S. You don’t need to remove labels. All these are recyclable on the
Island, whatever it says on the packaging!
Environment and
Sustainability Forum.
At
last month’s Forum it was reported that the new Forest Park Waste Plant is
operational. The Plant has the first
‘twin stream’ recycling facility in the country, and will support the Island
recycling more of its waste through diversion from landfill.
At
present 54.6% of household waste is recycled, and it is hoped that through the
Environment Bill more stringent policies will be imposed to do more.
Also
discussed was concerns expressed over the use of Glysophate, and the fact that
Public Health England do not consider this weed killer to be dangerous… In addition, discussion took place about the
roll-out of charging points for electric vehicles and the creation of making
more land available as future woodland zones.
The
next meeting taking place will focus on future planning and housing, and how these
can be ‘greener’ and more energy/ water efficient.
Telephone Boxes.
BT are set
to remove a total of
16 public telephone boxes from
locations across the Isle of Wight.
The service provider has notified the IW Council of their plan to take
away call boxes from some towns and villages on the Island
The telephone boxes to be removed include:
·
Coronation Avenue, Northwood
|
·
Broadway Cresent, Binstead
|
·
Adelaide Grove, East Cowes
|
·
Nettlestone Green, Seaview
|
·
Avenue Road, Sandown
|
·
Main Road, Brighstone
|
·
Sandown Road, Sandown
|
·
High Street, Godshill
|
·
Alverstone Road, Apse Heath
|
·
High Street, Wroxall
|
·
Gunville Road, Newport
|
·
Newport Road, Apse Heath
|
·
Malthouse Green, Newbridge
|
·
Steyne Road, Bembridge
|
·
Chale Stores and Post Office, Chale Green
|
·
Lane End Road, Bembridge
|
A total of 292 calls were made from the 16
telephone boxes in the past 12 months. The least used is High Street, Godshill
with only 2 calls made, with the most calls being made from Adelaide Grove,
East Cowes – a total of 42.
Also
this month:
·
I
attended a meeting where concerns were raised that more incidents of Asian
Hornets have been reported. During this summer it was reported on the impact
this has had upon bee colonies in the Channel Islands.
·
A
presentation was made to the IW AONB Committee on the progress of the English
Coastal Path. As an update, Natural
England reported that dialogue was continuing between English Heritage and the
Ministry Of Defence. The final proposals
will be consulted upon in February 2020.
·
I
am no longer a member of the IW Councils Pension and Audit Committees.
·
I
am supporting the IW Community Club in their bid to fund inclusion facilities.
·
I
am supporting residents and Councillors from Havenstreet and Brighstone with
proposals that I am putting forward for a new community bus service which
connects rural and isolated communities to Newport, Ryde, Freshwater and St
Mary’s Hospital.
·
Advice
and support has been given to a Cowes Business targeted by negative social
media.
·
The
Boundary Commission has approved ward changes for local elections to be held in
2021. Locally Ward Avenue, Queens Road and Park Road (east of Firs Close) will
transfer from Cowes West to Cowes North.
·
I
attended the official opening of the Cut’s new mural, which was a concept
initiated by Cowes school children, local artists and Cowes Town Council (when
I was Mayor!!) Thank you to all who was
involved!
·
If
you are having a Firework Party, visit: https://www.rospa.com/Home-Safety/Advice/Fireworks-Safety please, please let neighbours with pets know
before lighting up! Every year, I receive calls from owners of petrified
animals.
