Surgeries.
11am-11:30am,
Thursday 6th August, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
11:30-12pm, Thursday, 27th August, Food Shack
& Bar, Gurnard Pines, Gurnard.
4:30-5pm, Tuesday 1st September, Cowes
Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm, Tuesday 1st September, IW Community
Club, Park Road, Cowes.
Surgeries
Update.
I would very much like to place on record my
unreserved gratitude to the very lovely Rod Ainge and Karen from Eegons, who
has accommodated my last Thursday of the month surgeries for the last five
years or so.
Rods ear, his ideas, support and free cuppas
were very much welcomed throughout this time, and I was sad to discover that
the premises where his café had been trading from in the old town had been
sold!
In response- surgerywise, I am looking for a
new venue in the town. This also follows my Little Gloster surgery being
relocated to the Café at Gurnard Pines, where a number of residents have
requested that I increase my support.
Having spoken to the Café, I am hoping to also hold occasional drop-in’s
from Citizens Advice and other support groups.
The surgery will take place from this month
11:30am- midday on either the third or fourth Thursday of each month.
Environmental
Issues:
·
Bonfires.
Several residents contacted me over the build-up
of timber at the old Turkey Farm in Place
Road opposite Place Side.
In response, I approached Environmental
Health regarding residents concerns and the landowner cancelled their intended
bonfire advising officers they would find another method of disposing of the
wood…
Following the timber being cordoned off, fire
crews were called to extinguish a blaze at the site which was out of control on
26th July.
Elsewhere, regular bonfires in Rew Street has also been reported to
officers.
·
Security Lighting.
I have provided support to a resident kept
awake by a security light in Cowes. If
you have security lighting on your property, please ensure that this does not
distract neighbours as very often when I receive a complaint the owners of
security are not aware of the adverse impact this has upon those living nearby.
·
Trees.
Over the summer, I have been involved with
supporting residents who have had issues with neighbours overgrown bushes,
hedges and trees. To note:
- There is no general requirement that all hedges should be kept
below a certain height.
- There is no limit to the height of a hedge or a tree in a garden.
- There is no law prohibiting the planting of leylandii trees.
- There is no such thing as an automatic ‘right to light’ or a view.
For further
information please visit:
·
Waste and Recycling.
Visits to Lynnbottom and Afton Waste sites,
remain limited to 30 minute pre-booked appointments only. For details
visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Waste-and-Recycling/Recycling-Centres/Lynnbottom-HWRC
If you have difficulty putting out your
rubbish due to medical needs, you may be entitled to having your waste and
recycling collected from an agreed space on your property free of charge. In addition residents (especially second home
owners!) can also apply for rubbish to be removed from a specified place for a
nominal fee. For details please visit:
I continue to receive complaints regarding
litterbins being used by residents using bins for household rubbish. This has been reported and is being monitored
by residents, Island Roads and our Environment Officer.
Police
Matters:
·
Anti-Social Behaviour.
I continue to receive a lot of feedback
concerning noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour following gatherings on
Gurnard Beach. From last month’s police
report all (4 reported crimes!) related to incidents in Gurnard occurred in
relation to during or the aftermath of beach gatherings.
In the meantime, please report all incidents to:
https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
or by email to: west.wight.police@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
·
Cold Callers.
Age UK Isle of Wight has been informed of a
bogus caller who has been door knocking purporting to be from the charity. This
person is not employed by, or affiliated to Age UK in anyway.
The police advise not to let them in your
house, do not give them personal information and do not give them money. Please report suspicious visits to Age UK
Isle of Wight or the police.
Please note that doorstep scammers often
target older people and those vulnerable. Isle of Wight Trading Standards
advise people to use the Stop, Chain and Check method to avert doorstep
scams. If someone unexpected calls,
please:
·
STOP: Are you expecting anybody? Do they have an appointment?
·
CHAIN: Secure the door bar or chain before
opening the door.
·
CHECK: Ask for and double check the caller’s
identity.
Please visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/council/OtherServices/IWASP/Introductio14 for details of scams
etc.
Highways
Issues.
·
Monterey Close.
Island Roads have advised me that the new
development to the north of Egypt Copse, could be called Monterey Close this is
to reflect the Macrocarpa (Monterey Pine) Tree opposite within the grounds of
The Moorings Residential Home.
Although, I’ve made ‘nautical’ suggestions
linked to the nearby Egypt Light, I am advised the developer wishes to deviate
from the maritime theme of developments elsewhere.
·
B
Bird nesting season is due to come to its end
this month. This will allow roadside,
footway and public rights of way hedges to have more of a significant
trim. Please let me know of sites where
access is impaired.
·
Place Road new Pedestrian Refuge.
At last, the refuge has emerged in Place
Road. It was a long time coming, but thank you to residents for their patience!
·
Telegraph Pole, Crossfield Avenue.
One organisation, I was surprised to learn
that does not accept emails is BT OpenReach (Broadband Internet and
Communications Provider), or at least their Pole Objection department!
On this, I have been in dialogue with the
company concerning placing of new cabling and a pole in Crossfield Avenue. It
has been explained that because of recent carriageway resurfacing, cables
cannot be sunk beneath the road until 2024.
·
Active Travel funding to improve access for Cyclists.
Cowes Isle of Wight Councillors have been
contacted concerning ‘Active Travel’ funding from Government. This follows issues raised during the Covid-19
outbreak regarding improvements needed for pedestrian and particularly cycling
access. In light of this, we were
advised of a proposal to reconfigure traffic flows to allow a new town centre
cycle route.
Following feedback from town councillors, I’ve
asked if more can be done to re-route cycles from the pedestrianised town
centre, whilst enhancing increased public access to the shoreside. This is also being looked into.
·
Gurnard to Thorness Bay Coastal Path.
The public right of way connecting Thorness
to Gurnard remains closed following a landslip that took away a section of the
footpath south of Sticelett. I remain
optimistic that the path can soon re-open.
In the meantime the path up to the landslip remains accessible.
·
Parking Complaints.
Following complaints from dog walkers,
residents who are believed to be parking their vehicles in lay-bys in and
around Parkhurst Forest have been
reported to Forestry England. I am
unsure what action Forestry England can or will take, however this has been
reported.
Complaints have also been reported to Parking
Services following anti-social parking in Worsley
Road, Gurnard.
I have received a request to limit parking at
the Pallance Road junction, Cockleton
Lane. This follows concerns over sight lines exiting Cockleton Lane, as
well as restricted access to the bus stop.
This has been forwarded to Island Roads.
°
St Mary’s junction.
In recent weeks there has been a number of traffic
delays at this junction, this follows work commencing on the more difficult
aspect of the scheme. It is anticipated
delays will become more commonplace between now and when the works conclude in December.
For updates visit: http://islandroads.com/newport-st-marys-strategic-junction-improvements/
Contacts.
If you are intending to ‘write’ to me, please
can I ask that you supply details of your telephone number should you do not
have an email address. Unfortunately, my elderly printer has met its maker and
seemingly, I’ve discovered there is a worldwide shortage of ink jet printers
due to Coronavirus.
Please note that for the time being my
newsletter is only available online until the drought ends… In the meantime
this report will be added in its full colour hard copy form from Gurnard Press
and Cowes Library.
Toilets.
Public toilets at Gurnard Green recently
refurbished by contractors on behalf of Gurnard Parish Council have reopened.
Although I received one complaint concerning
the 20p cost, this charge is necessary to help maintain the toilets and is a
small nominal contribution from beach users (rather than just Gurnard precept
payers). During consultation on the transferral of toilets to Town and Parish
Councils, a number of residents suggested they would prefer to pay a charge
than lose toilets all together and where toilets have been replaced often there
is a charge. This has also been a
consequence in Shanklin and in toilets planned for Post Office Lane in Newport.
Since the toilets have reopened (following
the snagging) the large majority of residents welcomed the new facilities. My
grateful thanks to Gurnard Parish Council for their efforts on this.
Supporting
local businesses: Use them or lose them?
Following in the aftermath of Coronavirus,
there are a large number of local businesses that continue to be impacted by
the downturn in custom. This is
particularly relevant to pubs, café’s and small shops- all of which need our
support. Please if you can- shop local,
as our community needs all of the support as residents we can offer. This is not only important for the shops
themselves, but also for the many locals who rely upon employment!
Cowes
Harbour Commission/ Cowes Waterfront Trust Merger.
Meetings of stakeholders have and continue to
take place concerning combining the two bodies as a combined charitable trust. This,
Councillors were advised would be similar to bodies that oversee Harbour
authorities in Chichester and Looe.
From my perspective, as part of the
consultation with Cowes Town Council I requested that the wider community has an
improved voice on any new body through representation via their County and Town
Councillors. At present, there are no IW
Councillors involved in the Advisory Committee (The IW Council has instead
appointed an officer to fill its vacancy)
For details visit: https://www.cowesharbourcommission.co.uk/stakeholder_consultation_update_on_harbour_proposals
IW
Council Meetings.
With the lockdown easing, and the technology
of virtual meetings being better understood, meetings have returned! Of note
are the following:
·
Full Council.
°
I supported a motion to delay revisions to the
Island Plan in light of Covid-19. This
is particularly relevant to me, given concerns I have over current proposals to
increase housing numbers without any prioritisation for local housing need.
°
Initially I opposed and spoke against a self-congratulatory
motion regarding the ‘administrations’ response to Covid-19; Upon revision this
received all members support when changing the word administration to ‘Island
Community’.
°
Because of perceived extra costs to Island
residents, I opposed an increase in Council Tax for next year to fund the
Combined Fire Authority. The reason I supported the merger originally was due
to saving rather than increasing costs.
·
Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services.
°
There remains concerns regarding some children
returning to school. I requested that in
addition to children and staff returning, parents are also provided with
support. This follows evidence of an
increase in mental health issues.
°
Outside the Committee, I am providing support
for parents with concerns relating to Christ The King School, Newport. On this
matter, I have referred these issues to the Cabinet Member who has responded to
parents.
·
Planning Committee.
°
An application was approved for the location
of a micro-brewery/ bar in Sandown High Street.
°
Training has been provided to all Planning
Committee members on the Oil Well proposed for the Arreton Valley.
°
Advice was sought from the monitoring officer
on my involvement as a member of Gurnard’s Planning Committee. Now as a member
of the IW Council’s Planning Committee, I will be making the following
declaration at each meeting:
Please note that any predisposed view I express tonight
is based on the information that has been presented. However, I remain
open to listening to all arguments and receiving further material planning
information- potentially enabling me to change my mind in light of further
information’.
Also this month:
·
I continue to receive comments concerning use
by the IW Council of the Governments ‘High Street Safety Fund’ on social
distancing spots on footways.
·
Concerns have been raised regarding taxi
operators not using face coverings. This
has been reported to Licensing Officers.
·
A request has been made to provide and supply
artwork to brighten up Gurnard Green.
·
An approach has been made to the IW Council
to support a resident who wishes to track down a foster child, brought up in
the 1960’s.
·
I attended a meeting of the Anti Poverty
Forum. Two of the major concerns from
the meeting is the impact of Covid 19, especially on those with ongoing mental
health and financial issues.
·
I continue to lend my support to a resident
whose landlord has delayed carrying out repairs to their home.
·
Following meeting the 70/30 ambassador for
the Island, support has been given to the WAVE Trust, an organisation
established to support those with ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences. From my
perspective, I am one of around half a dozen Councillors (and Bob Seely MP) signed
up and campaigning to raise awareness and support for those affected. Details
on the 70/30 Wave Trust can be found at: https://www.wavetrust.org/7030
·
A new supply of Face Masks have been provided
to Northwood Stores, who has raised around £100 for Mountbatten Hospice from
sales.
·
A protruding branch was reported to Island
Roads for investigation in Cockleton Lane.
·
Support has been provided to those under 25
unable to retrieve welfare Universal Credit benefits.
·
I continue to chase up a response from IW
Council Officers regarding a residents request to acquire Council owned land off
Crossfield Avenue.
·
Support is being provided concerning an
illegal encampment off Rew Street.
·
Declarations of Interests have been
updated. These are now on my website,
and have been submitted to Councils.
·
Help has been offered to the Board hoping to
reopen the Isle of Wight Community Club in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Club have assisted some
residents on surveying hedgerows and boundaries.
·
Flu Vaccines will be made available to all
residents aged 50 and over from this year.
