Councillor's Report: April/ May

Surgeries.

Due to the Local IW Council Elections, I will be holding a surgery on the following date:

5:30-6:30pm  TUESDAY, 30th APRIL.  THE PORTLAND, WORSLEY ROAD, GURNARD. 

If you wish to speak to me concerning any issues over the election period please send an email to: paulfulleriw@gmail.com,

or telephone 01983 289595 from 6-9pm, Friday evenings.

Isle of Wight Council Elections.

Residents will be aware that I am seeking re-election, and subsequently due to me canvassing, this month’s report is shorter than usual!  Many thanks to all residents who have offered kinds words on the doorstep.  These are very much appreciated! 

In the meantime, I continue to listen to resident's concerns.

Island Roads:

Pot Holes.

The new PFI contractor took on responsibility for Highways Maintenance, from April 1^st…. Prior to this occurring I received a number of calls from residents about the perceived quality of pot hole repairs and concerns that tar had not been compacted.

Dog Bins.

With regards to the emptying of dog bins, a number of residents contacted me prior to Easter about bins not been emptied. This proved to be the case for a fortnight and were in some cases causing bins to overflow (Rew Street and  Cow Lane).  Following complaints being received all bins in the Cowes West and Gurnard Area were emptied within 48 hours.

Gurnard Settlement Boundary.

Following recommendations from Gurnard Parish Council, which is largely supported by Place Road and Baring Road residents, I have supported that Gurnard’s Settlement Boundary is removed from the Island Plan.

This will further protect the Green Gap between Cowes, Gurnard and beyond. 

Local Action Group Meeting.

At the recent LAG Meeting the following was reported:

·         PC Lisa Paul is also talking to Gurnard Primary School regarding traffic on Baring Road. Once I have collated the views of residents, I will feedback to the school and the IW Council.

·         Edinburgh Close and the Crossfield Estate seems to be an emerging issue, which is of concern.  Residents have requested that further action is taken to address traffic and parking issues

·         Dog Fouling is an issue in Pelham Road and on footpaths near to Lanes End School. Suggestions made about promoting multi use dog/litter bins.  I've been requested to look into working with local schools and Town/Parish Council's to seek a joint initiative to address this.  

·         PC Pringle reported there had been 6 House Searches, with 4 arrests. Drugs remain a concern locally and police requested this to remain a priority.

·         Litter continues to be prevalent on Arctic Road between cycleway and Newport Road.

·         Concerns were expressed regarding Children’s Society Wellbeing Survey findings, especially regarding happiness in school and concerns from Secondary School Teenage Girls on their appearance.

·         Sgt. Sizer will report back to the LAG how widespread Domestic Abuse is locally.

·         Operation Serenity and how the police are working with others in dealing with Mental Health Issues. Under S136 of the Mental Health Act, the Police can remove persons for their own safety.  The Police were investigating what steps were in place beyond this happening?

In the past month:

·         Gurnard held its third public meeting concerning the villages Neighbourhood Plan.  88 local residents attended and the purpose of the meeting was to find out more about the shortly to be distributed Housing Needs Survey and what the sub-committees were pursuing.

·         At the Planning Committee Meeting, I voted against the application to demolish Hamlet Court, Queens Road, Cowes.

·         At Licensing- I helped determine the review for the House Of Legends in Newport.  Concerns were expressed by the police on the numbers of customers using the premises and noise.  This was largely upheld by the Licensing Committee.

·         I ‘volunteered’ to undertake Gurnard’s latest village tidy up.

·         I have distributed over 2,000 Annual Reports.

·     I have made representations to BT regarding Superfast Broadband within Gurnard and parts of Cowes

·         Dog Mess continues to be an issue which I’ve taken up with Island Roads.

·         Following doorstepping in Rew Street, I am looking forward to convening a meeting to request action is taken concerning speeding/ dangerous driving between Sunnycott Caravan Park and Hillis Corner.

·         Action has been requested to fix traffic signs in Rogerson Close, Guppy Close, repair pot holes in Debourne Close and replace broken panels at Bus Stops in Roundhouse, Place Road and at the Park and Ride, Somerton.

·         Action was taken following criminal damage complaints in between Gurnard and Cowes.