Surgeries:
10:30-11am, Thursday 13th
May at Benches adjacent to the Watersedge Café, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
11-11:30am, Thursday 13th
May, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
11:30-12pm, Thursday 20th
May at Benches in front of Cowes Harbour Commission, Town Quay, Cowes.
11:45-12:30pm, Thursday 27 May, Eegons Cafe, 85 High Street, Cowes. (Note new time and venue!)
Election Update.
A very huge thank you to everybody who voted
at the recent election. The turnout for Cowes West and Gurnard, proved to be
high compared to many areas across the Island.
Although official figures have not been given, I estimate that the
figure is around 49%.
In the meantime, I feel both very humbled and
privileged to be re-elected for a fourth term to represent our community in
County Hall. The final results were
confirmed as:
PAUL FULLER (INDEPENDENT) 1101 (77.4%)
+1.2%
TIM JEFFERYS (CONSERVATIVE) 208
(14.6%) -4.9%
JOSH
POINTING (LABOUR) 114
(8.0%)
+3.0%
At the time of writing, because there is no group
with overall control within the IW Council it is uncertain who will form an
administration to make decisions. This
could either be as a minority administration, or could be a coalition between
groups.
In addition to the County Council Election, the
Cowes North ward which I represent as Town Councillor was contested. The results,
and those elected were confirmed as:
Paul Fuller (660); Richard Hollis (513); Anni
Adams (438); Wendy Wardrop (350); David Walters (338); Paul Bertie (328).
In the meantime, I very much look forward to
working with new Councillors and those candidates seeking election.
Planning:
·
Sunnycott Caravan
Park, Rew Street. Ref: 21/00535/FUL Proposed extension
for 8 units of accommodation.
Concerns have been raised on this application
due to its local impact and sustainability of location. In response to feedback this application has
been REFUSED.
·
63 Solent View Road,
Gurnard. Ref: 21/00491/FUL Proposed demolition and replacement dwelling.
Overdevelopment, loss of privacy and impact
upon the street scene has been raised by local residents on this proposal to
demolish and rebuild on this site in Solent View Road.
Because of concerns raised on both these
applications, I’ve asked these proposals are called in should officers be
mindful of approving these plans. UPDATE: Following concerns raised, this
application has been amended with revised plans being advertised in the coming
weeks.
·
Land adjacent. to The
Stables, Woodvale Road, Gurnard. Ref: 20/0248/FUL. Proposed dwelling.
This application which proved controversial locally
for residents to develop within this private lane has been REFUSED
·
Bucklers View
extension.
Southern Housing Officers are looking to
proceed with proposals to extend Bucklers View.
However, this is subject to approval by their ‘board’, and once a
decision is confirmed this will be fed back formally to residents.
Because construction will have an impact upon
residents, businesses and local infrastructure, this is an issue I have
requested Southern Housing to address as a matter of urgency.
Transport
and Highways:
·
Cowes/ Gurnard
Seafront car parking charges.
Following last month’s request, I have still
received no formal response from the IW Council Leader on scrapping meters and
charges. I was ever hopeful, of a
positive response before this year’s election. However, it is positive as I
reported in April the installation date was delayed until after 4th
June when the new Council is formed.
In response, I am confident with the feedback
received, that with a change of administration there is absolutely no appetite
to impose these new charges initiated by the current Council on the seafront. I
am currently in discussions with officers regarding reviewing proposals with a
view to scrapping these charges and offering alternatives
·
Escooters.
Last month, Cowes Town Council was asked to
set up a meeting with Escooter operator, Beryl. To date this hasn’t happened,
and because of this I have requested to relay concerns through meeting the
Council’s officers overseeing the pilot.
In response to this, given the proximity of local elections my request
has been tentatively declined.
In the meantime, there is good news
concerning the relocation of the Escooter Bay on the Park Road junction in
Granville Road. This bay has been
relocated on the Church Road/ Union Road junction.
In the meantime, please copy me in to any
complaints being made. The form from Beryl to report incidents can be found
here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXs1QOiFGEdafpz2X7L8UccAbiS7XO4cy8FTqiuoRKmvNgwQ/viewform
·
Roadworks,
Horsebridge Hill, Parkhurst.
Last month I received numerous enquiries
concerning utility works to repair the infamous Parkhurst water main on the
main Newport to Cowes road. The reason
for no contractors being seen on site was down to an electricity cable being
severed. Throughout the closure I provided updates on social media, and feedback
information provided by Island Roads.
·
Vehicle Repairs on
the Highway.
I have followed up a complaint concerning
vehicle repairs on the highway.
Initially, I requested this was investigated by our District
Steward. However, if this fails to
resolve the matter, I will take this up with the road traffic policing unit
which can be contacted at: www.hampshire.police.uk
·
Speedwatch.
A very big thank you to new residents who
approached me to join the local Speedwatch group.
·
20’s Plenty.
Following feedback, I’ve been approached by
Gurnard residents requesting consideration of a 20’s Plenty scheme for the
village. 20’s Plenty Schemes have grown in popularity and is a mechanism to
slow traffic to make residential streets safer.
In light of this, this is a project that I
will ask is considered by Gurnard Parish Council…
·
Carriageway
Resurfacing.
I can confirm that the following roads in the Cowes area are scheduled
for resurfacing in the current programme for 2021:-
°
Moorgreen Road, Cowes; Rolls
Hill, Porchfield – June
The following roads are scheduled for later this year, but these schemes
are subject to change once we receive the latest scan data (which is currently
underway) for carriageways across the Island:-
°
Thetis Road, Cowes; Bellevue
Road, Cowes – October and Church Road, Cowes; Princes Street, Cowes – November
With reference to this, I have requested that
Worsley Road and Crossfield Avenue are given priority
given their omission.
·
Disabled Bays.
I have received a request from a resident
concerning able bodied individuals parking in bays for residents who are
disabled. Please note disabled bays are in place (and requested) to support
residents who find it difficult or painful to walk any distance. For motorists to use bays when it is
unnecessary or inconvenient to do so does have an adverse reprehensible impact.
Local
Shops.
Following the reopening of shops and local
businesses after Lockdown, I have requested signage at the Roundhouse Junction
highlighting ‘Village Shops and Pub’.
This I am hopeful will encourage motorists driving into Cowes to leave
the main road to come into Gurnard. To
me this became very apparent when a number of Councillor colleagues did not
know where Gurnard was, or the local facilities the village had to offer.
Village
Tidy Ups.
Another very big thank you to the 22
residents who volunteered (joining me!) for Gurnard Parish Council’s Big Tidy
Up, which took place on 10th April. The following day, a further
tidy up in the form of a beach clean took place and was supported by Surfers
Against Sewage who targeted the beach between Thorness and Gurnard. Many thanks
to Marie Bugden (Gurnard Parish Council) and Alexis Hollis for organising these
events!
Cowes
Community Bus.
Following the recent pandemic and the
subsequent fall in numbers of passengers using the Community Bus I understand
that the Isle of Wight Community Bus made a financial loss for last year. With respect to last years loss, I have
requested that our local Town and Parish Councils consider approaching the High
Street Welcome Back Fund (from Government) to recoup losses and help safeguard this
important lifeline for local residents.
Restart
Grants: Support for Local Businesses.
The IW Council are facilitating Government
Restart Grants to support small businesses impacted by the Covid pandemic. For details please visit: https://iow.gov.uk/news/First-businesses-receive-Restart-Grants
Gurnard
Green.
Notices have now been placed on IW Council litter bins on Gurnard Green requesting
residents to please not overfill bins, this follows complaints regarding
badgers and foxes emptying and scattering contents across the village green and
beach. In the meantime, Island Roads
have advised that litter collections increased from last month.
Gurnard
Pumping Station Works.
A request was made to Southern Water to
repaint their pumping station on
Princes Esplanade and to resolve the odour emitted from the pumping station.
In response, contractors have been on site to
replace and upgrade the pipework nearby, following ongoing rag/ textile and fat
damage caused by residents inappropriately disposing of items.
Isle
of Wight Council Elections.
This month, much of my time has been taken up
with the local election. Since the
election was called, households should have received my Election Communication
delivered with my Annual report. In the
meantime, I have been out and about, door-stepped around one third of the ward
and undertook IsleVote 21 hustings.
Over the past few weeks, I have thoroughly
enjoyed meeting residents and following up their enquiries.
Cowes
Medical Centre.
I have been in communication with Managers at
Cowes Medical Centre following complaints received concerning the non-response
of telephones over the last few weeks.
The Centre has advised me that patient requests have increased over the
past few weeks, this is in addition to providing support for covid
vaccinations.
With respect to those residents unable to use
e-consult, the centre advises: “Our suggestion would be for patients, or
their support, to post a letter through our letter box, and we will respond to
that based on the clinical urgency, but in a timely way”.
In the meantime the Practice advises that a new phone system is being
installed.
Motor Neurone Disease Support.
The IOW
branch of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association was formed in 1996 and is
run entirely by volunteers, many of who have personal experience of the
disease. Our aim is to provide the best possible support to local
people living with MND and their families and carers. We also focus on raising
awareness of the disease and the association, and fundraising.
We hold
regular monthly informal support group meetings, where people with MND and
their carers have the opportunity to meet with others living with the disease,
to share experiences and make new friends. We also produce a local newsletter –
available in printed format or visit the branch website www.mndiw.org.uk under
“recent news” to download a copy.
Under
normal circumstances we would be organising a number of fundraising events
during the year: - Antiques Fair; Tea/Coffee Mornings; Race Nights; Quiz Nights
etc. We have also been supported by lovely people who run marathons or do
sponsored cycling events to help raise funds. Sadly, none of this has happened
since early 2020 so the funds are rapidly depleting as we still continue to
support the people that need us when they need us. All sponsorship is greatly
appreciated or if you would like to choose us as your charity of the year, we
will be eternally grateful.
MND is a
rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease that can affect any one at any
time, and at the moment there is no known cure. We strive for a world free of
MND.
Also this
month:
·
I
have been asked to support beach hut owners who are seeking concessions should
the IW Council insist on imposing charges post-election.
·
Regular
dog deposits have been reported to the IW Council’s Environment Officer in
Cross Street, Cowes.
·
A
request has been made to provide veripools to support marine wildlife within
future coastal protection schemes
·
An
enquiry has been made regarding bathing water quality and the threat posed by
E-Coli and Covid from pollutants. I am still awaiting a response from the
Environment Agency on this matter.
·
A
fence damaged by contractors in Baring Road and damage to straighten damage
caused by a rolling vehicle in Woodvale Road is pending repairs.
·
A
request has been made to sink drainage gullies at the Churchill Close
cul-de-sac has been requested.
·
I
am supporting a number of residents who the Council considers failed to
re-subscribe their garden waste collection.
·
I
have provided support to Gurnard Parish Council who are seeking to make the
concrete slab at the base of Gurnard Green more accessible to disabled
residents.
·
Concern
has been expressed concerning the sale of woodland to the west of Hawkins on
Egypt Esplanade. It is noted that this
land is protected by a Woodland Tree Preservation Order, as well as being
categorised as a SINC (A site of importance for nature conservation)
·
I
am working with IW Council Officers in supporting the removal of a car which
was seemingly abandoned on private land off Worsley Road.
·
I’m
supporting a resident of Magdalen Crescent and another in Warrior Drive over
separate child safeguarding issues.
·
Uneven
road surfaces/ exposed ironworks have been reported in Shore Road and Magdalen
Crescent.
