Surgeries.
4-5pm. Monday 1st August, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
10:30-11:30am, Wednesday 3rd August, Benches
adj. Watersedge Kiosk, Shore Road, Gurnard.
5:30-6pm, Wednesday 31st August, The Portland,
Worsley Road, Gurnard.
Please note that despite fewer surgeries in August, I
remain available and continue to pick up emails and texts, should I take any
Annual Leave. To note because of leave,
it may take longer for officers to respond to enquiries/ matters.
‘Secret’
Beach Works.
I was approached by a number of residents
concerned over the movement of rocks and shingle at the secret beach between
Shore Path and Marsh Road.
As a result of being contacted earlier this
year permission was granted for minor works on the proviso that rocks could be
repositioned (with photographic evidence) to the original location prior to the
spring storms. To ensure no damage was done, this has been monitored.
Barbecues.
The IW Council are supporting calls to ensure disposable
barbecues are properly used and discarded
sensibly. If disposable barbecues can be avoided all together this would
be brilliant!
If not, once cooled please ensure debris is safely
disposed of. Incidents have occurred where abandoned barbecues has caused fires to
surrounding countryside as well as plastic litter bins. There have also been incidents where
barbecues have scorched ground where they are been lit, whilst on beaches barbecues
has caused burns when trodden on.
In response to the regularity of incidents requests have
been made to formally ban disposable barbecues.
Jet Ski’s.
The anti-social
use of jet ski’s at Gurnard was reported to the Marine Police, who continue to
monitor waters frequented by bathers.
Please note a bye-law exists which prohibits all ‘personal watercraft’
being used faster than 8 knots and in depths of less than 2 metres.
Please report
incidents to: https://www.hampshire.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/
Extreme Hot Weather.
Last month the temperature reached 40°C in the United Kingdom for the first time since
records began.
What you can do
·
Stay out of the heat, cool yourself down, keep your
environment cool or find somewhere else that is cool.
·
Look out for neighbours, family or friends who may
be isolated and unable to care for themselves; make sure they are able to keep
cool during a heatwave.
·
Get medical advice if you are suffering from a
chronic medical condition or taking multiple medications.
·
Make sure medicines are stored below 25°C or in the
fridge (read the storage instructions on the packaging).
·
Carry on taking all prescribed medicines unless
advised not to by a medical professional. But be aware that some prescription
medicines can reduce your tolerance of heat.
Cowes Week.
Despite no Fireworks, there remains a number of
events taking place in and around Cowes. These can be found here:
Speedwatch
More volunteers are still desperately needed to join Cowes
Speedwatch. Please let me know if you are interested in joining Last month the
volunteers were asked to monitor traffic speeds in Tuttons Hill.
IWAONB
Meeting.
At the recent meeting of the Management
Committee that oversees the Island’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the
following was reported:
·
The
AONB Team are to sponsor the recovery of Swifts,
now classified as an endangered species of bird.
·
Officers
visited an equivalent AONB/ Biosphere zone in Normandy. In France,
areas of ecological importance have been designated by UNESCO due to their being
no rights of way, open access and therefore visits to ecological importance can
only happen with the agreement of local landowners.
·
It
is with concern that intended strike
action could have a negative impact upon the Isle of Wight’s Covid recovery
through tourism and potential reduced visitors coming to the Island by ferry
and rail.
·
For
the timebeing there will be the release of no more white tailed eagles on the Island due to avian flu.
·
Concerns
continue to be raised regarding the use of carbon
trading, and the threat this may have upon farmland.
·
For
details visit: https://www.wightaonb.org.uk/?fbclid=IwAR202CeBXxRxvovULpngiHcBpdrbI7SOiAyfoYqOhmVl5EaAjTmisbMl_fs
Local
Planning Matters:
·
Planning
Enforcement Officers have visited a chalk based track to the south of Cockleton Farm. Originally this track
led to a brick works, and has been upgraded to allow access to a landlocked
piece of land that is required for agricultural purposes, for storage and for a
building to cover up a borehole.
·
Planning
Enforcement support has also been requested following concerns raised over
mobile homes in holiday parks
·
I
am supporting a resident concerned with the intended extension of a neighbours
dwelling in Albert Road.
·
A
resident has contacted me with concerns over water resilience and conservation,
and the inability of water companies to build reservoirs. This is a matter I’ve
taken up with the Council’s Environment & Sustainability Forum.
Island
Planning Strategy: July Observer article
I think everyone must by now know about the
Island’s serious housing issues. You probably know someone yourself who has
been affected by this crisis – struggling to rent, to buy or even just to move
house. These issues are by no means exclusive to the Island, and the local
planning system is key to resolving them. As cabinet member for planning and
enforcement, I want to use the planning system to address some of these
problems, supporting the work being done by Cllr Stephens as cabinet member for
housing.
You may have heard of the Island Planning
Strategy, or ‘the IPS’ for short, and this document will be the local ‘planning
bible’ for the Isle of Wight. We recently commissioned an independent review of
the planning service, which confirmed that getting the IPS approved by central
government is essential to the Island's planning process. We carried out public
consultations on the draft IPS in early 2019 and last summer. The responses we
received allowed us to make significant changes to the plan to better fit what
you told us you want and need.
The council will use policies within the IPS
to help make decisions on planning applications, but first it must be signed
off by central government. I like to refer to the policies as ‘planning tools’
and the sooner we can get some new ‘planning tools’ in our planning toolbox the
better, as they will play a key role in addressing some of the housing issues
we have. One example is being able to use an Island definition for affordable
housing rather than the government one. This would help make homes more
affordable and accessible for island residents.
Because of how national planning legislation
works, when we make decisions on planning applications under the present
arrangements there is sometimes little we can do to refuse these applications -
even if we think they are in the wrong place. Or if we do refuse them then the
Planning Inspectorate can overturn the decision. I have seen this recently in
my own ward where a scheme for six homes on greenfield land that was refused by
the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee in March 2021 was allowed on appeal
by the Planning Inspectorate. The longer it takes to get the IPS approved and
in place, the longer we will all be in this position across the whole island.
At the next full council meeting on 21
September, councillors from across the island will decide whether to publish
the IPS for a period of public representation, and then to send the plan, with
any comments, to central government. There will also be another period where
comments can be sent to the government’s appointed inspector. I am working closely
with councillors of all political persuasions to ensure as many as possible
choose to support this vital planning document, and what it will do for the
island.
I hope the IPS gets the support from
councillors that it needs in September to allow us to move forward as soon as
we can. Without it, we will not have the planning tools we need to help meet
the needs of the Island; and most urgently, to address the housing crisis.
Local
Listings: Heritage Assets.
There are a number of houses, structures and
local features that although not listed that has a sense of local importance to
the local character of our community.
Because of this, I am seeking to work with residents to highlight a
local list of heritage assets important to our community. If there are assets you consider should recognised,
please let me know!
The current Local List can be found here:
https://www.iow.gov.uk/azservices/documents/1322-Local%20List%20Database%20220211.pdf
Parkhurst
Forest: Poison Warning!
I have
received a number of recent calls concerning dogs that have been walked in
Parkhurst Forest being poisoned.
This
follows from a couple of years ago, when there were a number of reports of dogs
falling ill, following being walked from Marks Corner.
Please
be on your guard! The police has been
notified.
In the
meantime, please let me know if you or somebody that you have known has
experienced similar instances.
School
Holiday Events.
A wide range of activities – which also provide a nutritious
meal – are on offer for children and young people of all ages Isle of Wight
during the summer holidays.
Grants
totalling £213,305 have been awarded to local organisations, who will provide
schemes for children and young people from low-income families during the
school break.
Free
places are available for children who receive benefits-related free school
meals. Places are also available for children and young people on Education,
Health and Care Plans (EHCP), those open to social care, or with special
educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The
following organisations are offering activities and parents and carers wishing
to find out more should contact the provider directly:
Aspire Ryde
Activity:
Children’s play session and healthy meal in the Kingdom play activity centre.
Contact: foodandfun@aspireryde.org.uk or phone (01983)
716020.
Brading Community Partnership
Activity:
Activities for eight to 18 year olds, ranging from music and theatre workshops
to arts and crafts at Brading Youth and Community Centre.
Contact: gin.jane.b@gmail.com
CM Sports, Newport, Ryde and East Cowes
Activity:
Sports coaching and arts and crafts activities for eligible children aged five
to 11 in Newport (Barton Primary and Nine Acres primary schools), Ryde
(Oakfield Primary School) and East Cowes (Queensgate Primary School).
Contact: 02392 987881 or email www.cm-sports.co.uk
Island Riding Centre, Newport
Activity:
Riding sessions with a healthy lunch provided for ages six to 14.
Contact: (01983) 214000 or email summer@islandriding.com
Scallywags, Broadlea Primary School
Activity:
Scallywags Holiday Fun Club are offering spaces for ages three to 18 years old.
Contact: scallywags0@btinternet.com
Theatre Educational, Ryde
Activity: A range
of professional, experienced community arts tutors who will provide arts and
theatre themed activity for seven to 16 year olds at Oakfield Primary School,
Ryde.
Contact: www.theatreeducational.co.uk
UKSA, Cowes
Activity:
A wide range of fun activities including paddle-boarding and dinghy
sailing, kayaking and keelboating.
Contact: www.uksa.org
YMCA
Activity:
YMCA are offering places at its day camps throughout the summer holidays for
children aged up to 12 years old.
Contact: whnursery@ymca-fg.org or
call (01983) 862441 (option 4).
Funding
for the programme comes from the Department for Education and was set up so
that local authorities could offer healthy food and enriching activities in the
school holidays to children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
It
also forms part of the council’s connect4communities programme, details of
which are available here: www.hants.gov.uk/connect4communities
Highways and
Environmental Issues Issues.
·
I
have requested a replacement of the lost lifebelt from Princes Esplanade,
Gurnard.
·
Following
complaints from residents, Queens Road planting took place.
·
I
continue to receive complaints over vehicles using the Green, Crossfield Avenue
as a Car Park.
·
I
am supporting disabled residents requiring enhanced support accessing rubbish
tips at Lynnbottom and Afton.
·
I
have requested the repainting of faded double yellow lines in Shore Road.
·
I
am supporting residents in Shore Path in receiving Grant Funding to repair the
sea wall.
·
Last
month a burst water main in Northwood Recreation Ground was fixed. I am working with Cllr John Nicholson to see
repairs made good to the access road to Northwood Cricket Club.
·
Complaints
were received concerning where Marsh Road meets Rew Street. Unless parking problems can be resolved, it
may be necessary to request double yellow lines to allow high sided vehicles to
pass.
·
I’ve
contacted transport contractors who recently used Church Road for access. In
response, it was highlighted by the that Church Road is the most direct,
accessible route for traffic, whilst causing the least disruption to residents.
·
A
request has been made to remove a concrete block which miraculously appeared on
Gurnard Beach.
Hedgehog Corner: This month- The hidden dangers of Ponds,
Swimming Pools, Spas…
Garden
Ponds / Swimming pools can be death traps to small mammals. Always ensure that
there are several gently sloping slipways around the edge of the water to allow
animals to escape if they fall in. Ensure that swimming pool covers are on
every night and that polystyrene floats are placed near the side for a hedgehog
to cling to. Slipways may be made by half submerging bricks or rocks around the
edges of ponds. Alternatively a piece of chicken wire or (green) plastic coated
wire can be hung over the edge of ponds and pools like a scrambling net.
Hedgehogs can use this to climb out of the water to safety. Keep the pond level
topped up so that hedgehogs can reach the wire. Do remember hoglets will need a
longer ramp than an adult hedgehog.
Chairman’s Report,
Gurnard Parish Council.
·
An
informal site meeting has taken place of the Old School Meadow Working Group to
discuss a number of action points from the last meeting of Gurnard Parish
Council. Because of the dry weather, a
request was made to move one of the picnic seats to an alternative location.
·
A
meeting has taken place to discuss options and opportunities for improved
village signage. Feedback will be
reported back to the Parish Council at its meeting in September.
·
During one of the warmest weekends so far
this summer, there was issues with the locking mechanism for the toilets on
Gurnard Green, which resulted in the toilets being out of action. It was believed this was as a result of power
cuts that occurred in the village the night before.
·
I continue to receive feedback from beach hut
owners concerning perceived anti-social behaviour from both smokers and bench
users discarding litter. I am continuing
to speak to beach hut owners and am monitoring the situation.
·
Myself and Councillors are meeting to discuss
Terms of Reference for the new Gurnard Beach Working Party.
·
I have been asked to formally nominate the
former chairman of Freshwater Parish Council, Cllr. Anne Banbridge to be Vice
Chairman of the IW Association of Local Councils
·
A question was asked at the most recent IWALC
meeting to the IW Council’s Cabinet.
This referenced a discussion that took place concerning the potential
for the IW Council withholding Parish Precepts following instances of delayed
payments of Council Tax to the IW Council.
At the Cabinet meeting, members advised that all options were ‘under
review’.
·
Grass has been strimmed at Old School Meadow
with a view to re-opening up the area leading from the bridge. In the meantime following an upturn in dog
poo not being picked up and deposited, consideration is being made in
restricting dogs entirely from the field.
To prevent any restriction, please, ensure dog poo is deposited in the
bins.
Energy Price Increases.
Energy prices are soaring.
For up to date support visit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ and http://www.uswitch.com/ Tel: 0800
688 8557. Alternatively, talk to the Footprint Trust on 01983 822282 or email: info@footprint-trust.co.uk.
Councils will oversee the repayment of the £150 rebate
through Council Tax reimbursements for A to D properties. To speed up payments
residents are being encouraged to pay Council Tax through Direct Debit. For
details visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/news/Energy-rebate-update
If you do
not pay via Direct Debit an Access Code is needed. Codes are being sent
separately. For details visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Residents/Benefits-Council-Tax-and-Business-Rates/Council-Tax-Services/Council-Tax/Energy-rebate
Also this month:
·
At Full Council, I supported the need for an
extra meeting to follow the Council’s Budget Meeting in February. From my perspective, I was fully supportive
of the need for all Councillors to have the opportunity to scrutinise the work
of the IW Council’s administration.
·
I continue to await feedback from the
Watersedge Café on support I can provide to owners if required.
·
There are currently No Cold Calling stickers
that I have left in Cowes Library. In
addition, following a resident’s complaint, I have also left copies of Southern
Vectis’ bus timetable in the library.
·
I have contacted Southern Water, who I have
asked support a resident locating their stopcock.
·
I am supporting a resident with a housing
enquiry
