Surgeries.
5-5:30pm, Monday 9th November. Telephone Surgery.
6-7pm, Monday 16th November. Telephone Surgery.
6-7pm, Monday 23rd November. Telephone Surgery.
6-7pm, Monday 30th November. Telephone Surgery.
Please note because of the Government Lockdown commencing Thursday 4th November, Face to Face Surgeries are cancelled. In addition to Telephone Surgeries, if you wish to see me, I will be holding Zoom surgeries. If you wish to meet in this way please email or text your availability , and I will arrange meetings.
Please note, I can be contacted 24hrs per day, 7 days a week to take calls, texts and emails. Surgeries depicted above outlines the times where I am in a position to take and respond to any calls received.
Because of evolving Coronavirus guidelines
surgeries will take place outside where possible and are subject to change. For
details and updates please visit: paulfullercc.blogspot.com
Due to current restrictions, surgeries at the
Community Club, Cowes Library and Cowes College are suspended.
Seafront
Parking: Update.
Last month, a change.org petition was set up
to allow residents to further object to proposals to charge for parking between
Egypt Light, Cowes and The Woodvale, Gurnard.
In
its first week over 2400 residents had objected to proposals.
Please
click the links on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PaulFullerIW;
or Gurnard
Parish Council’s website: https://www.gurnardpc.co.uk/proposed-parking-meters-on-the-seafront/
It is
intended the IW Council’s Cabinet will make its decision on these charges, as
well as charges at the Somerton Park and Ride and winter charges throughout all
Esplanades at its meeting in January.
Interestingly,
following emailing one of the Cabinet Members on a different subject, I was
informed the Council ‘have areas that were profitable, and now in loss such as
parking’. Given this statement, and the practical constraints of charging all
year on Cowes/ Gurnard Seafront this further fuels the argument against applying
charges.
Many
thanks to Adam, Helen and Nerys for translating my pidgeon English and
developing the petition and for a number of residents involved in ’spreading
the word’
Cowes Medical Centre.
I
have responded to a number of enquiries made concerning the Surgery. This follows the suspension of several
services following the Covid 19 outbreak and difficulties that several
residents are having accessing flu vaccines and other medical consultations.
In
addition, residents have also approached me concerning the difficulty speaking
to the surgery for medical advice and support.
In response to this, the Surgery advises to phone in the afternoon when
lines are quieter. That said, this is
not helpful should residents require a ringback or a face to face
consultation.
In
response to feedback received, I am hoping to facilitate a meeting between the
practice and Councillors.
In
the meantime, I have received some positive feedback concerning the drive
through used for Flu Jabs at BAE Systems, as well as use of the E-consult
service. For details please visit: https://www.cowesmedicalcentre.co.uk/
In
the meantime, if you have had difficulties with support please let me know.
Rosie’s Bench.
I’m working with the family of Roanna
Jardine, who sadly passed away earlier this year, and who has asked for a seat
to be erected in her memory. To date friends and family have raised over £2600.
With Gurnard Parish Council’s Chairman, Terry
Nolan I met with Rosie’s mum and a site has now been agreed for the Picnic
Bench.
Baring Road Litter Bin.
A
request has been made for Cowes Town Council to locate a litter bin in Baring
Road. Following this request, a proposal
for the bin to be located at the junction with Battery Road had to be rethought
following objections.
Please
let me know your thoughts!
Top Tips from the Footprint Trust to help you
keep Warm & Safe this Winter.
·
Talk to your energy company. Are you on the best deal? Can you get the
£140 Warm Home Discount?
·
Keep safe in a power cut or water
failure. Join the free Priority Service
Register call 0800 294 3259 or visit www.ssen.co.uk/psr/southernwater
·
Lag your water pipes
·
Save £200 per year on utility costs! Talk to
the Warm Island team at the Footprint Trust on 01983 822282 or email: info@footprint-trust.co.uk.
·
Phone 0800 027 0800 and ask about the
Watersure tariff if you have a disability or high water use due to illness.
·
Make sure your torch is charged, and you have
spare batteries.
·
Keep a supply of tinned and non-perishable
goods in case extreme weather prevents you from going out to the shops.
·
Make sure you have enough medicine; don’t
leave re-ordering to the last minute.
·
Keep important phone numbers on your fridge.
Useful Helplines:
°
If you are worried about your Fuel Bills call
The Footprint Trust on 01983 822282.
°
Islehelp for
advice and information on benefits, money issues, rent concerns. Telephone:
03444 111 444; Website: www.islehelp.me; Email: enquiries@iwcab.org.uk
°
Isle
of Wight Council Covid-19 Support Telephone: 01983 823600
°
Struggling on your pension? You may be
entitled to more money. Pension Credit
helpline 0800 991 234.
Cold Calling.
Please
let me know if you require No Cold Calling stickers, as I now have plenty to
circulate to residents who have been targeted.
According to Trading Standards, there is no excuse for cold callers door-stepping,
if you have a sticker on display
In
the meantime, I have raised the matter of replacement of No Cold Calling
signage with both Northwood and Gurnard Council’s entering both villages.
Residents
have advised that Anglian Home
Improvements may be continuing to cold call in the area, despite their head
office being advised not to by Trading Standards. On a positive note, Regency Roofing has left the Island.
Please
let me know, if you are targeted by Anglian Home Improvements and I can and
will take this up again with Trading Standards.
Free School Meals.
A
number of residents have been in touch with me concerning the Government
choosing not to support families on low incomes who have children during school
holidays.
Because
of the recent two week half term holiday on the Island, the position locally is
more acute than it is in other parts of the country. From my position, myself
and other cross party Councillors are anxious to ensure families are better
supported and have requested additional support from the IW Council, whilst
still continuing to lobby government for change.
In
the meantime, I am holding a zoom meeting from 6pm, Monday 9th November to discuss further action being
pursued. Join the meeting at: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75559312594?pwd=RXVwanc2cUcybE1QTjNUQU44dU52QT09 Meeting ID: 755 5931 2594; Passcode:
8De9Ww
Coronavirus Updates:
1. Buses.
All bus services, following lockdown on 4th November, will continue to operate as normal until advised accordingly by Government. Locally this means Service 32 will continue as per the timetable on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Trees.
Replacement Highways Trees in Place Road, Solent
View Road and Worsley Road are due to be planted by the end of November
according to Island Roads.
In the meantime, I’ve been contacted by a resident
of The Avenue who has been told to remove a substantial oak tree as it is
causing a nearby property to subside.
Both the neighbour and the resident are unhappy from the findings of the
Insurance Company, and as a result requested support and advice from the
Council’s Tree Officer to protect the habitat nearby which I’ve helped to
facilitate.
Gurnard Pines.
Many thanks for the feedback supplied concerning deliveries on Cockleton
Lane.
From the information that I have received, it was
made very clear that this is very much an ongoing issue for residents of
Cockleton Lane, whereas this seemed less of an issue for Pines residents. As a result, I am still intending to ask for
the Post Office and Island Roads to categorize Gurnard Pines a ‘street’ in its
own right.
Solent Forum.
At the Solent Forum the following items were
discussed:
·
Under the Terms of the Environment Bill currently working its way through government there
will be increased ‘net gains’ for protected areas through planning.
·
Following 31st December 2020 commercial fishing will be restricted
from Marine Protection Areas.
·
Salt Marshes at the Lymington
River Estuary is being built up following dredging sediment being deposited.
·
An update was provided on the Fawley Waterside Development.
It was reported that following the former Power Station being raised to
the ground a new development on the 10 hectare site comprising of businesses and,
1,500 dwellings. In addition 8-9
hectares will be set aside to create an access canal, saline lagoon and tidal
creek to enhance wildlife and ecology. As
well as this the seawall will be raised by 2-3 metres for the development which
is phased to take place over a 15 year period.
·
An update was provided concerning both Cowes
Harbour and Yarmouth Harbour promoting Advanced
Mooring Systems being used to protect the seabed from being scarred by
moored vessels.
·
The Solent has been depicted as the first
watercourse in the UK to have a prevalence of the non-native invasive Asian Date Mussel
·
An update was given on Nitrate mitigation work, which was conditioned as part of Wardington
Farm development, Havant.
Planning Matters.
Following concerns raised, officers are in dialogue
with agents from The Dottens.
Elsewhere, Planning Enforcement Officers have been
contacted concerning a matter in Cockleton
Lane.
Isle of Wight Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.
At the Isle of Wight AONB Partnership the following
matters were discussed:
·
Concerns were raised by members over mainland visitors
to the Island and the potential impact this is having on Covid 19 outbreaks.
·
For the
first time, an otter has been discovered on an inland waterway
·
The IWAONB was successful in receiving a £20k EU grant
as part of a twinning bid with Armorique’s Iroise Biosphere Reserve in
Brittany, France.
·
A discussion took place concerning the future of
Military Road, and proposals to protect the road through deep piling at Brook
Chine. It is anticipated that the Road’s
life will be impaired as erosion continues to take bites out of the road over
the next 35 years.
·
There is concern over where future funding and management
of AONB’s will occur following DEFRA potentially having no money to fund
Partnerships in the future. Following
the Glover review, I remain confident that Partnerships will be continue and
funds could be enhanced…
Highways and Transport Issues.
·
The Island is partnered with a mainland bid for
Government Funding to promote E-scooters. As I am aware, the local bid is one of four
being considered by Government.
·
Further to last month’s report, I am advised the proposed
30mph speed limit for Place Road is
being assessed by the IW Council and Island Roads as part of the Island wide
speed limit review. In the meantime,
please continue to let me know your thoughts.
·
I am still not happy that Covid 19 guidance still
does not compel taxi drivers to wear a face covering. With drive-thru flu appointments, and many
residents dependent on taxis there is real concern and nervousness being
expressed by vulnerable residents. Please note the Government, in their Covid
19 advise ‘Whilst it is not mandatory, at this time for taxi and PHV drivers to wear face coverings you are strongly
advised to do so in order to protect yourself and others’
·
Recently, white
markings appeared on Egypt and
Princes Esplanades. Please note
these are not to mark out where Parking Meters may be installed, rather the
markings are to highlight repairs to the kerbside.
·
The debate continues on proposals for next years
proposed Diamond Races Motorcycle Event. At a meeting with Bob Seely MP, IW Councillors
were keen to point out that (despite the optimism shown by Diamond Races)
nothing has been agreed, and still safety assessments are required before
proposals can proceed.
·
A request has been made for an Economic Impact
Assessment for works continuing at St.
Mary’s Junction. Further details can
be accessed here: https://islandroads.com/newport-st-marys-strategic-junction-improvements/
·
I’ve been contacted by a resident, and supportive
of a campaign to lobby for Zero Carbon
Buses. Although Southern Vectis has
questioned the viability of buses, I’m will be applying more pressure to pilot
this locally.
·
Speed Watch
volunteers are being sought to help monitor traffic speeds. Let me know if you are
interested.
·
A long term parked/ abandoned vehicle has been removed from Baring Road. In the
meantime, another long term vehicle parked in Cliff Road, Cowes
·
I have approached Island Roads concerning overgrown hedges, which were cut back
in Nodes Road, fly tipping in Solent View Road and a potential
obstruction on the highway in Lower
Church Road.
Also this month:
·
I have requested Bob Seely, MP intervenes
concerning the shortage of Flu Jabs. In response, the MP is discussing the
shortage of the vaccine with the Minister.
·
I have requested that Egypt Light is made secure.
·
A dispensation was provided as a one off to park
their mobile home.
·
The Police were asked to intervene in a Neighbourhood Dispute.
·
I am supporting the future use of the Beckford Centre being managed and used as
a Community Hub by members of Cowes Heritage.
·
Following this not being done by their landlord, support
was provided to a tenant to register their home to the IW Council.
·
I have assisted a resident with a retaining wall
installed and no properly fitted several years ago. Building Control has been approached and is
providing positive support
·
Following the introduction of new Covid 10
measures, I have attended a meeting and have forwarded advice and support to
individuals.
