Surgeries.
4:30-5pm, Monday 2nd February, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
5:30-6pm,
Monday 2nd February, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11am,
Thursday 5th February, Gurnard Press Bistro, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
5:30-6pm,
Wednesday 11th February, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
11-11:30am, Thursday 19th February, Eegon’s,
85 High Street, Cowes.
11-11:30am, Wednesday 25th February, The
Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
Horsebridge Hill: A Survival Guide.
Firstly Rew
Street reopened, to schedule at the end of January. At the same time, I have also been asked to
monitor the SGN closure for three weeks in Baring Road.
Southern
Water has advised that they are intending to keep Councillors updated via
weekly feedback reports. (I’ve requested a weekly face to face meeting).
It should be
noted that during the buses/ emergency vehicular access will be continue.
Please note,
the purpose of this closure is to replace pipelines that are now 150 years old.
Without any doubt this will create
considerable delays once work starts. If able, please avoid travelling at peak times, shop locally in Cowes and Gurnard, or travel by buses that are unaffected
by the closure. From 7am-6pm buses operates six journeys an hour between Cowes
and Newport. Rather than paying to park, there are several roads on Newport
Road between Oxford Street, Northwood and Noke Common, Parkhurst where motorists
can park without cost or restriction.
Once received, updates will be posted on my
website!
A few weeks ago,
with the closure of Horsebridge Hill pending, I asked what plan was in place
for other urgent and essential roadworks needing to take place. To that
question, I am still awaiting an answer! To help residents, I have compiled the
following information/ help/ support.
This will be added to once more information is made available!
1.
Emergency/Urgent Works.*
Under
legislation through the Road Traffic Regulation Act (1984) and the New Roads
and Street Works Act (1991), utilities companies has powers to close roads
whenever necessary and when ‘urgent’. This restricts any powers for highways
authorities to say no. To note,
currently ‘emergency’ works to replace infrastructure such as Southern Gas and
Southern Water, is scheduled however this can and is taking place at the same
time.
2.
Working your way through the Labyrinth of roadworks. Visit: https://one.network/
The Causeway One
Network app. assists in highlighting where roads are closed, when and by which
contractor. When travelling outside the Cowes peninsula, you can use this app.
to find out which roads are open as usual and which roads are closed. The Map
‘apparently’ is very good at helping residents navigate around diversions. If you find this not to be true, or you find
diversions confusing please let me know
3.
Horsebridge
Hill. Frequently Asked Questions. Visit:
Resurrected
following last year’s closure, please find Southern Water’s re-vamped FAQ’s,
giving updates on questions that residents are asking!
4.
Compensation.
Southern
Water advises that Businesses affected by road closure can claim compensation,
for details please visit:
As a result of
Southern Water’s offer, Ryde School was made aware, to which I suggested that
their travel providers (Lighthouse) could make a claim since they were not
permitted to take advantage of the same travel concessions as Southern Vectis.
As a result, I understand children now travel to/ from school in this way.. I
am ever hopeful that my tip helped!
Lane Rental Request made
to Highways.*
With the impact
of streetworks on our communities, I’ve approached the IW Council as highway
authority to consider an approach to Government for the Isle of Wight Council
to take advantage of Lane Rental charges, in the same way as Kent, Surrey and
Sussex have taken advantage of.
Lane Rental
schemes allows Highway Authorities in England to charge utility companies and
roadwork promoters a daily fee for occupying busy roads during peak times. For
details visit:
Automatic supermarket vouchers to support more Island
Households!
Thousands more Isle of Wight households will
benefit from supermarket vouchers this winter, as the Isle of Wight Council
expands its cost-of-living support scheme. Eligible households will
automatically receive a £25 supermarket voucher in the post later this month,
with no need to apply.
To check eligibility and other support
potentially available through Government’s Household Support Fund visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/cost-of-living/household-support-fund/food-and-crisis-support-services/
Proposals by Southern
Water to recycle water.
I’ve been
approached in recent weeks by residents concerned over Southern Water’s bid to
recycle waste water on the Island during periods of drought. On this proposal,
the consultation seems to raise more questions than provides answers. Originally intended to reduce dependence by
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight on Hampshire’s chalk streams, this original
motivation seems lost. Although the
consultation ended last month details can be found by visiting: https://www.southernwater.co.uk/about-us/our-plans/water-recycling/isle-of-wight-water-recycling-project/
Pavement Parking.
Government are expected to take
steps for local authorities to enforce against ‘unnecessary obstructions’ of
pavement. Whilst the report highlights there are a number of options under
consideration, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking for
further details.
Local Elections.
Following several emails that
were sent to me last month, I can confirm that Government has not cancelled
local elections due to take place for the Isle of Wight Council this year.
In response to this, locally
all group leaders and ward Councillors that I spoke to confirmed my feelings on
this, and how necessary elections are locally.
From my
perspective, I look forward to being out and about delivering my Annual Report
and talking to residents prior to elections being confirmed in March.
Aviation Markers.
For the
observant amongst us you may have noticed aviation lights marking the first of
the electricity pylons, which brings the Island’s electricity from the mainland
on land to the south of The Marsh at Gurnard.
I am told by the
Civil Aviation Authority that the red light medium intensity markers are
necessary for structures >150m, and within 15km of the nearest airfield
(this is Port Solent/ HMS Daedalus Airfield at Lee-On-Solent) which is 12km
away.
Isle of Wight Planning
Strategy.
I have responded
to the recent Council Consultation on the Island Planning Strategy.
Key to my concerns are that housing targets for the Isle of Wight (703 per annum for the next five years, increasing to 1104 thereafter) are unviable and unachievable for the IW Council. This, I consider sets the Council up to fail (To note, most years the Council has 250-450 completions). Please see my comments below:
12th
January 2026.
Dear
Sir/ Madam,
As
Isle of Wight Ward Councillor for Cowes West and Gurnard, I wish to make the
following observations concerning the Planning Inspectors feedback to the Isle
of Wight Planning Strategy:
1.
In my
opinion the proposed statutory methodology (housing figure arrived at) figure
of 1104 for the Isle of Wight will not be deliverable and sets our Local
Planning Department to fail. At present
the figure for completions on the Island has consistently remained below 500
new dwellings per year for the last ten years.
The case for the Isle of Wight’s circumstances was put in, and accepted
by the last Government in Footnote 26, of the last NPPF (December 2023). In recognising
our demographics, I strongly object to this new figure given the potential
impact this is likely have within delivery.
Even with the previous number set at 453, I considered this to be aspirational.
Developers tell me that because of
national rising costs and travel costs for resources from the mainland, build
costs on the Island are 20-30% higher locally on the Island. With greater
opportunities for building contractors to work off-island this creates difficulty
in recruitment.
2.
In my
opinion on the Island to kick start housing on the Island, there is real need
for Government to support the social/ affordable housing sector as prices remain
out of range for local people. To reach
a greater yield of socially affordable housing, there is a real need for
financial support from Government for housing which residents can afford to
both rent or buy. Because local
residents are priced out of the market by those moving to the Island, I support
the Isle of Wight Council’s Planning Authority having policies for deeper
discounts to support those living locally.
Financial aid/ support could assist
kick-starting social housing providers returning to our Island. Locally,
salaries are 13.9% below the national average, whilst housing costs mirror the
national picture. It should be acknowledged that most residents working in the
care/ hospitality industries with many Islanders working at or just over the minimum
wage. To note, the cost of travelling to the mainland to commute is
unaffordable and not sustainable for many.
3.
I
welcome proposals that suggest enacting a diversity of tenure in new housing
developments. As a Councillor, I have witnessed issues with those living in
affordable housing being remote to residents living in market-place housing.
4.
Although
the Isle of Wight does not have Green Belt land, I support the opportunity to
maintain, protect and safeguard strategic ‘green gaps’ which prevents coalescence
between settlements. Since the
introduction of the Isle of Wight Core Strategy in 2012, which enabled
development ‘immediately adjacent to settlement boundaries’, I have seen
important gaps being lost.
5.
I
welcome the opportunity to support the need for carbon neutral homes. Where these have been built, this has reduced
energy, improved water efficiency and lowered overall living costs.
Yours
faithfully,
Cllr.
Paul Fuller. JP.CC
Isle
of Wight Councillor for Cowes West and Gurnard.
Planning Applications.
·
Westwood Close.
Proposals
to develop 6 x 2 bedroomed properties on land at the end of Westwood Close was
approved by Planning Committee. I am,
continuing to act as a conduit to improve uncertainty over vehicular access and
waste collections.
·
Wellow Fields Proposal.
At the IW
Council’s Planning Committee, I moved proposals to object to developing
farmland in Wellow. The reasons for
doing so was that I felt the justification for doing so was weak, whilst I also
had concerns over flooding and access. For these reasons I considered proposals to
not be ‘sustainable development’.
Garden
Waste Subscriptions.
For existing householders who subscribe to
Green Garden Waste Collection, this can take place from now, opening for new
subscribers from 10th February with applications closing on 10th March.
The total cost to subscribe is £102 per year
(or £8.50 per month). For details contact 01983 823777, or visit: www.iow.gov.uk/gardenwastesubscriptions
Beach Huts.
Last year, I had
the opportunity to meet with the lovely owners of Beach Huts in Gurnard. Following the meeting, which I hosted in
September Beach Hut owners put forward a number of questions concerning the IW
Council’s liability as landlords, the disparity of charges and the increased
costs of leases. Following this, I intend
hosting a follow-up meeting. The IW Council’s full response can be found here:
Questions from the Gurnard beach hut
owners:
1. We pay ground rent for the land our huts sit on. We are tenants and
therefore the council becomes a landlord. We have a contract outlining our
obligations and responsibilities as tenants, but we have nothing from the
Council regarding their responsibility as a landlord. The leases seems to be
very one sided, in that the Council seems to have very little responsibilty as
Landlords and all the onus is on us as the tenants!
The
agreements (Lease or Licence) are for the plot of land that the customers beach
hut sits on. These agreements are let on effectively full repairing (FRI)
terms. This means that the landlord (Council) transfers 100% of the liability
for the plot to the tenant (Customer).
2. The beach huts have been described as Iconic and as they are nearing
100 years old, often appearing on Island promotional literature, could also be
seen as architecturally significant. We are required to maintain the huts, with
no choice to colour etc for this very reason, unlike huts in other locations.
It is a substantial investment, buying, maintaining and paying the council for
rent the ground. Can you tell me why the council is not legally responsible for
its land when we are legally responsible for our hut? we are required to
maintain our huts to a good standard but the fact the Council is not
maintaining the Green means the land slippage is damaging the huts making
maintenance more difficult and expensive. Since we pay the Council to lease the
land the huts sit on, it is not unreasonable to expect the Council to ensure
that land is safe and fit for purpose.
There
may well have been beach huts present along the Gurnard seafront for nearly 100
years but am sure that each hut will have been replaced a number of times over
than period. Each hut owner is required to maintain them in good order to
maintain the overall aesthetics of the area; that said I would have thought
that each respective owner would want to keep their asset in as best condition
as possible to help prolong its life.
The
Council is legally responsible for the land the beach hut sits on, however as
explained above the responsibility for this land is transferred under each of
the individual ground rent agreements.
The
Council does maintain the landscaped area at the rear of the beach huts, and it
is unfortunate that the land has moved slightly in some areas over time. To
mitigate any potential damage to the beach hut plots, a number of owners have
installed a small wooden retaining wall.
3. The green behind the huts is council property, there are large
fissures appearing all over the Green with the land slipping and damaging our
huts. The wider implication is the effect that the slippage has on the rest of
the green, the road above the green and the houses the other side of the road.
Why as hut owners are we being told that we are responsible for retaining the
slippage, this surely is a community issue?
As
far as I am aware no one has said that the responsibility for retaining the
slippage lies with the hut owners. What has been said was that if any hut owner
wished to install a similar small wooden retaining wall, the Council would have
no objection to the installation.
4. How is the lease amount calculated? Is there a formula? Is this a
standard formula across the Island or location specific? What is the formula?
As
far as I am aware no one has said that the responsibility for retaining the
slippage lies with the hut owners. What has been said was that if any hut owner
wished to install a similar small wooden retaining wall, the Council would have
no objection to the installation.
5. Why is there such a disparity in what we are all paying?
The
only disparity between the beach huts is whether the hut is occupied by way of
a Lease or a Licence. Leases is more expensive for the following reasons
·
A
Lease agreement provides greater security to the owners; instead of a Licence
renewal every three years, Leases are for a term of 10 years.
·
A
longer-term Lease agreement is more attractive for potential buyers. For
instance, if a purchaser was talking out a loan to procure the hut, capital
funding would be much more readily available to them.
·
The
sale of a hut is no longer be restricted to buyers that are on the electoral
register.
·
Ownership
of a hut and transfer of the agreement will be undertaken by way of a Licence
to Assign instead of the usual transfer document. This again provides more
security to the new owner.
·
A
new Lease agreement would be subject to small annual increase based on known
Retail Price Index (RPI) figures, rather than unknown Open Market Review
principles.
·
Payment
of the annual ground rent is available by way of monthly instalments.
6. Some owners have seen a leap of 350% increase in their lease.
Why?
Sorry
but I cannot see where there has been a 350% increase. Can you please identify
where his has happened and I will full investigate.
7. What is the council intending to do with the lease money? Will we be
seeing improvements in the immediate area to justify the increase.
The
money received from the beach hut assets is used to provide the services
provided by the IWC across the island as a whole.
8. As we have to dig our huts out, and we only rent the dimensions of
the hut. if a member of the public falls down the gap, Are we likely to
be sued by the council for creating the gap ? As the member of the public can
only litigate the owner of the ground Where the accident occurred?
As
part of every Lease/Licence holders agreement, they are required to take out
Public Liability insurance for instances where members of the public may be
hurt or injured in the vicinity of the individuals hut. All public area outside
of that demise will be covered by the IWC PL policy.
Adult and Child Social
Care Placements.
Last month I was
prompted to seek out the IW Council’s costs with respect to individual
statutory care for adults and for children.
Noting that individuals could potentially be identified, officers were
only able to share what the average of the top 5 most expensive placements in
Children’s Social Care (£740k per annum) and placements in Adult Social Care
(£359k per annum) were.
It should be
remembered that the placements, are statutory entitlements where there is
limited scope to negotiate.
In noting this,
The Directorate for Neighbourhoods and Regeneration are being asked to find
around £750k worth of savings (around the same cost of a single child’s
placement). It is anticipated that the total of these savings should be found
through what are costs for waste services, public transport, car parks,
Environmental Health, concessionary fares, trading standards, beaches, parks,
rights of way, trading standards, bereavement services, libraries, leisure,
flood resilience, coastal protection, development control and emergency
planning. With most discretionary services now cut to the bone, it makes the
job of finding savings difficult.
Whilst being a
Cabinet Member until last May, these decisions were choices that kept myself
and my colleagues awake at night, and it will be interesting to see how where
the IW Council will broaden their appetite and choices. Will Councillors increase or broaden the
scope of car parking charges, or should they consider reducing the level of
frontline staff or reduce service availability and/or increase the costs we all
pay for services.
These are all
decisions that Councillors will continue to face, or risk Government making
their choices on our behalf.
Local Council Tax
Support.
One such
decision Full Council was asked to consider, was the level of financial support
the IW Council gave to residents (Usually families on low incomes).
Around ten years
ago, Government financially reimbursed Councils to support all low income
households. This then stopped, and
despite continuing to (quite rightly) support all pensioners on low incomes,
Government then gave Councils the choice to, to what extent they would now support
working families. In response to this,
Councillors were left to prioritise the level of Council Tax support they
offered. As a result, on the Isle of Wight over the last few years this has increased
from 60 to 75%, recognising the impact that Council Tax attributed to a
household’s net income/ national debt.
As a result, at
Full Council the decision was made to freeze its support to 75%. In my opinion if the IWC could afford to go higher, many Councillors would agree
to do so. For this reason, I am asking
whether you consider this to be right?
Isle of Wight Councillor Allowances.
Consistent to
the past, I voted against proposals set out by the IW Council’s Independent
Remuneration Panel to increase Allowances. As a consequence of changes which I
supported within the IW Council, my allowance in this year, (I estimate to be
around £12k) fell by more than one third of what it was in 2025 when I was a
member of the Cabinet.
I also voted
against proposals as I consider that much of the work that I do (as is the case
with many volunteers) should be voluntary.
In addition, whilst few people criticise my allowance claimed, understanding
the IW Council’s financial position that any level of increase was hard to
justify. I was one of seven Councillors
who this year voted against the Panel’s proposals.
It was noted
that the only Isle of Wight Councillor to forego last year’s allowance was
Cllr. Richard Quigley MP.
Volunteers Needed!
Northwood Parish
Council are seeking residents to join their Speedwatch Volunteers. In addition, the Parish Council is seeking Tree Wardens. Training will be
provided, with Speedwatch sessions taking place in the coming weeks. For details please contact: clerk@northwoodparishcouncil.gov.uk
Lionheart School.
The Children’s
Services, Education and Skills Committee has agreed to expand Lionheart School,
(which opened its doors in Cowes last month) at its last meeting.
As Ward
Councillor, I have arranged a meeting with school leaders and Town Councillors.
This, I hope will be followed up with a wider meeting with the community
and Councillors from outside Cowes.
Poisoned Badgers: Found
in Northwood.
Badger Trust
Isle of Wight is aware of incidents where badgers and a dog was poisoned
between Medham Farm Lane and the County Showground in the village. The Police are aware and the Wildlife
Incident Investigation Scheme, which is part of Natural England are
investigating.
Cowes Harbour Commission
Advisory Committee.
·
Dredging
continues within the Medina with work now 1/3 complete.
·
It is
anticipated that the new East Cowes Marina will be opened and operational by
the end of 2026. The new marina will
create an additional 145 berths. I was
advised currently there are 94 people on the waiting list!
·
It was reported
that visitor numbers at Cowes was 2% down on last year. This compares favourably to other Harbour
Authorities who have seen a significant downturn.
·
The RNLI are
seeking to close the East Cowes Lifeboat workshop in 2027. If this arises, 70 skilled employees will be
either redeployed elsewhere, or lose jobs.
This could potentially have an impact on the town’s economy. Those
affected were advised to comment directly on proposals. For further details
please visit:
·
Following a
mechanical failure, which caused £200k of damage to one single, an update on
the Shetland Trader was provided to members.
There is currently a national campaign underway relating to propulsion
incidents.
·
It was reported,
so far for 2026 there are 16 cruise liners due to visit Cowes. To tempt more
visitors, the welcoming committee are seeking further opportunities to
encompass adventure into cruisers itineries!
·
Cowes Harbour
Commission are seeking to find a safe place to swim from Cowes. This follows generations of children swimming
and diving into the harbour.
·
An update was
given on proposals to upgrade slipways entering the water at East Cowes,
following none of the four local public slipways really being fit for purpose.
Of the four slipways, it was felt the option to remove shingle and potentially
update the slipway, opposite the tennis courts was the favoured.
·
Navigation
Markers were checked, with only one needed to be replaced. This was undertaken
within 24 hours.
·
Red Funnel are happy
with new owners, Njord Partners citing opportunities for future investment.
Housing Needs Survey for
Gurnard Parish.
A lack of
suitable, affordable housing in rural communities has been a serious problem
for many years.
Completing
Gurnard’s Housing Needs Survey will provide updated and objective evidence of
what housing Gurnard needs in 2026 and beyond. The results will help guide the
Parish Council when responding to planning applications and shaping any local
housing developments.
The survey is
for anyone who needs alternatve housing in the next five years, for any reason
as wanting to downsize or move out of parents’ home and either
·
Already lives in
Gurnard; or
·
Wants to live in
Gurnard and has a past or present local connection (including being from
Gurnard, having close family connections, working here, or caring for somebody)
To apply visit: https://form.jotform.com/253212996871365 or
collect a paper copy from The Woodvale,
Cowes Library, The Phoenix Café (Gurnard Pines), The IW Community Club, Cowes
and the Riverside Centre, Newport.
The survey
continues until Sunday 1st
March.
Hedgehog Corner.
My friends on
Hedgehog Street has requested that this month I highlight the importance of
creating wildlife havens to protect our endangered hedgehogs. For details
visit: https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/go-wild-for-hedgehogs/
We need
your hedgehog sightings! Make sure to log
your prickly sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map. This data helps understand
how hedgehogs are distributed across Britain,
and how this changes. You can also use the map to check hedgehog sightings
in your neighbourhood. For further information visit: https://bighedgehogmap.org/
In a nutshell, last month.
·
Following
instances requiring enforcement by the Marine Management Organisation, I am seeking
provision of desk top space at County Hall for the IW Council to work in closer
partnership with this Government Agency.
·
Flooding
took place on Gurnard Marsh. I have requested for the EA to liaise closer with
residents asking for swifter action when flood risk is high.
·
Once
the weather calms, and ground movement stops it was reported at the Local
Access Forum that the Thorness to Gurnard Section of the Coastal Path will be
resurrected.
·
I
joined SIFCA’s Community Forum at Poole to discuss issues with one of the
largest fishing communities in the south
·
At
the Local Access Forum it was agreed to set up a ‘Rural Road Safety
Group’.
·
In recent weeks
Graffiti has occurred. I have reported
this to the police. Please let me know, if you have been impacted, or have
information that you can pass on.
·
Contractors have
been approached to tender for new play equipment on Gurnard Seafront. This follows the Pirate Ship at the play area
nearing the end of its life.
·
I continue to
chase cyclists dismount signs for the Cabin on the Green.
·
I received
notice of a Freedom of Information Request.
This, and associated correspondence has been relayed.
·
I have reported
instances of anti-social parking on the grass verge opposite Cow Lane.
·
To improve
access, proposals have been forwarded to widen the lower entrance of Old School
Meadow, Gurnard.
·
In recent weeks
Graffiti has occurred at Shore Path. I have reported this to the police. Please
let me know, if you have been impacted, or have information that you can pass
on.
·
Gurnard Primary
School now has a brand new lollipop man. Wahey! Thank you to all for their
interest!
·
I continue to
receive requests from residents for improved parking enforcement outside
Gurnard Primary School and Nursery which I expect to take place over the coming
weeks.
