Happy New Year!
Surgeries.
10:30-11:30am, Thursday 4th January, Gurnard
Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
2:30-3pm, Tuesday 9th January, Cowes Library,
Beckford Road, Cowes.
6-6:6:30pm, Wednesday 10th January, The
Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
10:30-11:30am, Friday 12th January, Gurnard
Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
1-1:30pm, Wednesday 17th January, The
Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.
3-3:30pm, Wednesday 17th January, Cowes
Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.
10:30-11:15am, Thursday 25th January, All
Saints Church, Tuttons Hill, Gurnard.
12-12:30pm, Thursday 25th January, Eegon’s, 72
High Street, Cowes.
6-6:30pm, Wednesday 31st January, The
Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.
Planning Applications.
·
Watersedge Café Application.
Before
Christmas, this application sparked a great deal of comments (Over 50). In discussing this proposal with a number of
residents, whilst supporting the principle of improving the facilities,
concerns have been expressed by residents to the size, scale and impact of the application
upon the street scene. Relevant concerns have also been expressed about the
perceived impact upon parking, potential extended hours and the impact upon the
culvert beneath the application site.
I have been
asked to call-in a determination by the Planning Committee should officers be
‘mindful of approving’ the scheme. However, to get to this point, I need to be
aware of the officers recommendation and conditions being considered to
mitigate against areas of concern.
UPDATE: I am
advised that officers are also seeking clarity concerning the impact of
proposals upon the culvert. Until the
technical reassurance is provided, any decision by officers remains ‘on hold’.
· Place Road Planning Application: Phase 2 (30 dwellings).
This
application was advertised just before this year’s Christmas Break and follows
pre-consultation discussions that took place with some residents last Autumn. The
deadline for this consultation ends on Friday
12th January. Letters
have been circulated to residents in Tuttons
Hill and Place Road, which
adjoins the site.
Green Garden Waste.
From 29th
December 2017 the IW Council/ Amey
stopped collecting the old bio-degradable garden waste sacks, in favour of
introducing a Garden Waste kerbside collection service.
This gives
residents (from Monday 5th February) the option of either having:
·
1 x Large Green wheeled bin with a brown lid, or 3 x Reusable Garden Waste
Sacks.
The new
subscription service will operate from 1st April to 31st
March each year. Subscriptions before 1st April will receive
collections in February and March for this year for free! Please note that the annual subscription also
includes the free collection of real (live) trees during January 2018.
Early
Bird Subscription (until 28th January 2018)
|
Regular
Subscription (from 29th January 2018)
|
·
1 year (through to 31 March 2019) - £52
·
2 year (through to 31 March 2020) - £112
·
3 year (through to 31 March 2021) - £172
|
·
1 year (through to 31 March 2019) - £60
·
2 year (through to 31 March 2020) - £120
·
3 year (through to 31 March 2021) - £180
|
Application process
Complete the
online application form at: https://www.iwight.com/iwforms/greenwastesub
You will need to have set
up a 'My Account' with the council’s web site to apply online. To set up a
'My Account' please visit: https://www.iwight.com/MyAccount/Login.aspx
All applications will require an
email address and a payment card (credit or debit). If you cannot complete the form
online you can call the council’s contact centre or via the waste services
team on 01983 823777.
For further information please
visit: https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Environment-Planning-and-Waste/Waste-and-Recycling/Household-Waste-and-Recycling-Collection/Green-Garden-Waste
Christmas Trees.
For
non-subscribers to the IW Council’s Garden Waste Collection Service, the IW
Council/ Amey will take away live Christmas trees. This year, the Council are charging a nominal
£5 fee for this service which collects trees on recycling days until Friday 2nd February.
This can be
booked 3 days in advance of your collection on-line www.iwight.com/waste, or by calling 01983 823777
Consultations:
·
School Holidays.
The IW
Council want to know residents views on school time holidays. Suggestions look at the possibility of
reducing the length of the summer holiday, and extending half term holidays in
February and October. For details please
visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/school_holidays. This
consultation continues until 12th
January.
·
Budget Consultation.
The IW
Council are consulting on next year’s budget, and the increased impact this may
have upon services. Please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SWK6PSQ for details. The consultation continues until 29th January.
·
Rights Of Way Improvement Plan.
The IW
Council is consulting on making improvements and Rights Of Way more accessible
to residents. For details, visit: https://www.iwight.com/Residents/Rights-of-Way/Public-Rights-of-Way/Rights-of-Way-Improvement-Plan-2017-Consultation The consultation continues until 23rd February.
Heat or Eat? Support from The Footprint Trust.
The Footprint Trust offers free
home visits to look for ways in which to reduce fuel and water costs. In some
cases The Trust can provide new cookers, fridges and washing machines to those
in greatest need. The Trust and advice offered can save £100’s. Please visit:
https://www.footprint-trust.co.uk/projects.html or call 01983 822282
Debt Advice.
For support contact
Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/, or call the CAB’s Adviceline on 0300 330 1313.
Alternatively, you can also contact the National Debt Line at: https://www.nationaldebtline.org or by calling 0808 808 4000.
Highways Issues.
Street Lighting.
Following painting
white lines and requesting improved street lighting in Blackberry Lane,
I have approached Island Roads following a concern being raised concerning
street lighting in Albert Road, Gurnard.
In addition, I have
also been approached by a resident who was involved in a traffic incident with
a vehicle leaving the IW Community Club in Park Road. The resident has requested improved signage
and lighting. Please let me know if you
have been involved in similar incidents at this junction!
Abandoned Vehicles.
A number of vehicles have been removed
following the intervention of different agencies from several locations in
Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood.
Following
complaints received last month, I am discussing options with colleagues on how
best to respond to vehicles being left on private and unadopted roads. In these instances, it is useful to know who
the vehicles belong to, and from the address the vehicle owners are operating
from…
Public Landing Stage Signage.
This has
been requested (with a contact point for residents requiring use of the landing
stage) on Cowes Parade following the Royal London Yacht Club taking over
responsibility for maintenance of Trinity Landing.
Hedgerows.
Following a
complaint being received of punctures, Island Roads were asked to remove
blackthorn debris, following brambles being thinned by a third party in Baring
Road.
Parking Restrictions.
Following a
number of chase ups, I am advised that the Cowes Traffic Order has been
finalised with the IW Council and is scheduled to be published soon. Once I know more, I will feedback.
Winter Salting/ Gritting.
Further to
last months report, I requested that Egypt
Hill was made safe following icy conditions in December. At the same time, it was also necessary to
request a re-salting of Tuttons Hill.
Dog Mess.
If there is
a regular problem with dog mess in your road, please let me know about this!
In the next few weeks, I am looking forward to working closely with our
Environment Officer (which continues to be partly funded by Cowes Town Council
and Gurnard Parish Council) to take action in hot-spot areas against the
culprits responsible. For me, this
remains a priority.
Please also
note that where dog mess does appear, when reported this can be removed and the
area cleansed by Island Roads (Tel: 01983 822440- 24hrs) within a couple of
hours. If this does not happen, please
let me know!
Drones.
A resident has expressed concern to me regarding the use of drones,
following an incident when one was spotted being flown across their garden in
Ward Avenue. This follows a further ‘privacy’
issue after another resident expressed concern to me during the summer.
Please note, if you do have a drone, please follow the Civil Aviation
Authorities Drone Code by:
·
Don’t fly near
airports or airfields.
·
Remember to stay below
400ft or 120m
·
Observe the drone at
all times- stay at least 150ft or 50m from people and property.
·
Never fly near
aircraft.
·
Enjoy responsibly.
Local Access Forum.
Items discussed at the most recent Local Access Forum included the
following:
·
The cutting at
Langbridge, Newchurch is to be reclassified and upgraded from a Public Footpath
to a Bridleway.
·
Over 150 stakeholders
attended meetings to discuss proposals for the English Coastal Path on the Isle
of Wight. Separate meetings will take place this winter with ramblers and
landowners in Gurnard.
·
Feedback was requested
from the Forum on the Newport Place Plan.
At the meeting members agreed to support the need for some of the £9m
investment to be used to enable sustainable transport options.
·
Concern was expressed
following the loss of the Bells and Trinity Public landing stages in East
Cowes. The LAF resolved to request these stages were recognised as Public
Community Assets.
·
Due to Brexit
priorities, future governance arrangements for the Forestry Commission has been
put on hold. It is anticipated the future model for Forestry England will
reflect English Heritage.
·
The Isle of Wight
Walking Festival is due to be relaunched in 2018, and overseen by Visit Isle of
Wight.
·
The Local Access Forum
supported my proposal to request that Rights Of Way is funded through the
Revenue budgets, rather than relying upon capital funds (this includes
developer contributions and government one off grants). This will provide greater certainty to ensuring
the Rights Of Way budget is protected. This proposal was supported by the IW
Council’s Cabinet member who is also a member of the Forum.
·
Concerns were raised
regarding the possibility of land at Seaclose being used to further Regeneration
projects.
Mayors Report.
At the last meeting of Cowes Town Council, the Leader of the IW Council
gave a presentation and answered queries from local councillors and residents
on the Floating Bridge. In the meantime,
Cllrs Anni Adams, Jean Bartrum and Neil Oliver will join representatives from
East Cowes Town Council and other stakeholders providing feedback to the IW
Council’s Scrutiny Committee this month.
The report (published on 29th December) can be found at: https://www.iwight.com/Meetings/committees/Scrutiny%20Committee/9-1-18/agenda.pdf?%20636504938465568564
During the meeting it was agreed to raise Cowes Town Council’s
precept. Although savings could were
also found, Councillors agreed to increase the precept to upgrade the four
public toilets that Cowes Town Council took over responsibility from the IW
Council last year. Further details of
Cowes Town Councils precept will be made available through the Town Council’s
newsletter to be distributed in the coming weeks.
Last month, I also joined Town Councillors, residents, parishioners and
the Reverend Andrew Poppe at the Lights Of Love Service held at Cowes Methodist
Church. This service supports the efforts of the Isle of Wight Hospice and has
been hosted for several years by Cowes Town Council.
Also this month:
·
I’ve offered support
to a resident wanting to help others.
·
Last month all
households in Cowes, Gurnard and Northwood should have received their copy of
the Cowes Medical Centre Information Leaflet. The 8 page booklet provides
invaluable details of what has changed at our GP Surgery and the reasons why. If your household has not yet received
theirs, please let me know!
·
I have attended
meetings of the AONB Partnership, a briefing called to consider the Boundary
Commission Review for the Isle of Wight Council ward boundaries, several
informal Scrutiny Meetings (discussing a Peer Review, Local Engagement liaison
regarding the Floating Bridge Report) a meeting of the Audit Committee and two
meetings focused on Regeneration issues.
·
Following discussions
with Town and Parish Council representatives and stakeholders I have taken the
decision to defer the Scrutiny Report on the Floating Bridge. This is to ensure that sufficient time is
granted to allow the review and its accompanying paperwork to have feedback
from stakeholders. This deferral will
also provide sufficient time for the reports authors to be challenged about
statements made.
· I continue to offer
support proposals to relocate to the Central Convenience Store, and have asked
for Cowes Business Association to get behind the proposed counter for Cowes
High Street.
·
New Flood
Co-ordinators have been found to be a contact point for the shops/ businesses
in Cowes High Street.
· Gurnard Parish Council
has resolved not to increase its Parish precept for 2018/2019. This is due to there being no requirement or
cost implication from the transferral of services from the IW Council, which
has been the case for some of the Islands principle towns.
·
I have contacted the
IW Council and Island Roads about the closure of Nodes Road during the
Christmas holidays by Southern Electric services. Because of the timing, I’m supporting Cllr
Nicholson, Northwood’s Councillor who questions whether this was authorised, or
necessary for the timescales involved, and if so what was the rationale for
closing the whole road? From our
perspective any unnecessary road closure can and do impact upon emergency
services, as well as a circuitous diversion for bus users from Pallance Road, Rew
Street and Cockleton Lane.
·
At the AONB
Partnership meeting, the representative from Visit Isle of Wight reported to
members a proposal to levy a £1 ‘tax’ for those entering and leaving the Isle
of Wight. It is believed that such a
levy could raise an extra £4m for projects which enhance the Islands
environment. It was suggested this would
operate in a similar way to the ‘bed tax’ which generates £38m for Majorca, and
elsewhere both Bath and Edinburgh are looking at similar schemes…
·
*UPDATE: Apart from attempting to resolve
yuletide parking issues, I spent a significant amount of time during the
Christmas break liaising with colleagues, officers and stakeholders in the
preparation for the Scrutiny Committee which I chair. Within the Floating Bridge report itself
officers were cautious not disclose all papers, due to legal concerns that this
may weaken the Council’s position, should further action be necessary. At the Committee
there was unanimous support for better liaison with stakeholders, whilst members
should have the opportunity to consider background papers before making any recommendation. A special meeting would follow.
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