IW Councillor's Report: November 2018

Surgeries.

10:30-11am, Friday 2^nd November, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 6^th November, Cowes Library, 12-14 Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 6^th November, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

11:45-12:15pm, Wednesday 14^th  November, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

2-4pm, Thursday 15^th November, Residents Event, Gurnard Pines Café, Cockleton Lane, Gurnard.

10:30-11:30am, Thursday 22 November, Coffee & Chat,  All Saints Church, Tuttons Hill, Gurnard.

12-12:30pm, Thursday 29^th November, Eegon’s Café, 72 High Street, Cowes.

Highways Meeting.

There are a large number of outstanding highways related matters that continues to frustrate me!

This includes the implementation of Traffic Orders, Resurfacing priorities and Highway Schemes that continue to stall due to ‘resource’ difficulties within the district.

In order to bring these matters to a head, all four Isle of Wight Councillors for Cowes are due to meet with officers from both Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council who manages the PFI contract in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, I have reported depressions in the road (Wyatts Lane), Split newly resurfaced roads (Hillis Gate Road), Tripping hazards (Baring Road), Shortage of lighting columns (Albert Road), overgrown hedges (Rew Street), Dog Fouling (Park Road/ Parklands Avenue and Northwood Recreation Ground).

Place Road.

I have met on site with Island Roads, residents and Cllr Nicholson following a second traffic collision occurring to one residents vehicle in Place Road opposite the junction to the new Meadow View development.

It is hoped there will be no further incidents following the resident finding an alternative location to park their vehicle.    

Japanese Knotweed removal, Land adjacent to Dottens Farm.

Work has commenced off Baring Road, this is as part of the programme to remove Japanese Knotweed.  I am advised the site owners have no intention to commence development ahead of the planning permission as advertised last month.

Because this work and its requirement to erect fencing and toilets does not represent development, it can be undertaken without permission.  

In the meantime following residents feedback, as a matter of course I have asked for the Planners to monitor works.

Planning Enforcement

Planning enforcement which was followed by a subsequent renewed retrospective application to remove planning conditions was made in respect to an application on Shore Path.

This was rejected by Gurnard Parish Council, and I await a response from officers on what action is due to be pursued. From my perspective, I am not happy that applicants can apply for planning consent which is then conditioned and disapplied by applicants.

In addition, with the Environment Officer, I have chased up discarded building waste left on the beach.

Planning Application: Bakehouse, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

A revised planning has been made to build two properties to the rear of the Portland Inn and residential properties in Worsley Road.

Gurnard Parish Council has raised concerns regarding the impact this will have upon the Jordan Valley and the requirement to provide an access road from Tuttons Hill.   On this application, I undertook a letterdrop to 60 neighbouring properties.

Beach Huts.

Following reconsideration of proposals made earlier this year, the IW Council are intending to implement increased fees to Beach Hut owners.

In the consultation that took place, the following feedback was received:

·         New rental values are too high.

·         The implementation of the new rents is too fast.

·         Should be a variance in rent based upon location.

·         Beach hut owners should be allowed to sub-let.

·         Beach hut owners should be able to opt for current licence or new lease.

·         Agreements should allow multi person ownership.

In light of feedback received from 50 out of the 234 beach hut owners, the Cabinet member is recommending:

°         The provision of new 10 year leases to the existing beach hut tenants. When the current licence expires there will be additional benefits. (i.e Beach huts leases can be in joint/multiple names, either by more than one member of the same family or two or more families. In addition leases will include the ability to sublet huts for the purpose of recovering annual rent and maintenance costs but not as a commercial operation)

°         Implement proposed rental increases over a phased 5 year period, from 1 April 2019. The phased increase would enable the increase to be paused, deferred or cancelled should market conditions change.

In the meantime, please let me know your thoughts on these proposals.

Island Plan Consultation.

This was due to be consulted upon this month. However, I am advised that timescales have slipped.  One issue that has raised concerns to me is the potential to increase annual housing figures from 525 to 641, and the impact this will have.

This follows proposals initially tabled in the IW Council’s Regeneration Strategy and mirrors Government proposals to increase the number of new homes to 250,000 each year.

On the Island housing figures have stalled around 350-400 new homes each year, and what is of concern to me is that permission is being granted for homes that are out of reach for local residents.  This has been seen with recent approvals that have limited social and affordable homes for residents wishing to make it onto the housing ladder.

Southern Vectis Meeting.

I met with the General Manager of Southern Vectis.  Since receiving complaints there was progress on improving access adjacent to Newport Library. Further improvements are planned for Ryde bound buses.

Improving capacity on the route between Cowes and Newport was acknowledged.  It was highlighted that single decked buses have 29 seats, whilst the growing number of loadings exceed 30.  This means often buses arrive at St Mary’s Hospital or Cowes Medical Centre with new passengers required to stand. It was shown that often there are vacant seats at the rear of buses, however these could not be accessed by mobility impaired passengers due to bottlenecking at the front.

Options requested include increased journeys per hour (with new single decked buses?), or having some services using double decked buses terminating at Carvel Lane.

Please let me know your suggestions to improve route 1!  Alternatively, please contact Southern Vectis direct at:  hello@southernvectis.com  or  call: 0330 0539 182.

Gurnard Pines.

A drop-in will take place 2-4pm, Thursday 15^th November at Gurnard Pines Café.

In attendance will be myself, Monergy Experts- The Footprint Trust as well as agencies that can offer Health and Social care support to residents. If residents are not able to make it to the drop-in, the agencies are happy to visit residents in their home on the day. 

I am ever hopeful (though this has not yet been confirmed!) Flu Jabs will also be made available to Cowes Medical Centre Patients on this day.

Solent Forum.

·         A report was provided and an update given on Southampton City Council’s Clean Air Strategy.

·         Last year the Lottery provided a grant to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to develop the Secrets Of the Solent Project. This initiative has and will continue to provide ‘citizens science’ projects to work with volunteers to collect data on our shores and seas, as well as champion measures to help protect the Solent; will work with the fishing industry, restaurants and consumers in promoting local sustainable seafood.

·         Of concern was the Solent’s growing population and tourist challenges.  In addition climate change and storm events, current and historic land management and how nutrient enrichment has adversely impacted upon water quality, biodiversity and our seafood industry.

·         Southern Water provided an update on the challenges being taken to address plastics in waste water.  The company are pre-empting legislation on micro-plastics and suggest they are leading by example.  Details can be found at: https://www.iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Recreation-Leisure-and-Public-Spaces-General/Beaches

·        An update was given on the reduction of breeding terns in the Solent.  Is seems as though proposals within the implementation of Marine Conservation Zones does not go far enough to safeguard the habitats of terns or seagrass beds which is relied upon to provide food for these birds.  It was noted than within the Isle of Wight there are no breeding sites for terns and shingle recharge on the Newtown Estuary was considered as a means to see Terns returning.

·        Beach Nourishment at Hurst Spit following storm damage last year was briefly reported.

·        Southern IFCA are consulting on net fishing management.  In the Medina it is proposed that there will be year round restriction on all nets except ring nets.  The consultation continues until Friday 6^th December. For further details please visit:  http://www.southern-ifca.gov.uk/news

Footprint Trust

From 10:30-11:30am, Friday 23^rd November at Cowes Library a drop in session has been arranged by Cowes Town Council for residents wanting to save money through switching energy suppliers and efficiency measures via the Footprint Trust Charity. 

The Trust advises householders can save £200 per year. Please visit http://footprint-trust.co.uk/ or call  822282 for details of their FREE advice and support to reduce household bills.

Mayors Report.

·         Myself, Cllr Peacey-Wilcox and the Assistant Clerk had a town centre street signage site visit with Island Roads. Cycling and the positioning of signage for disabled bays were discussed, with actions being pursued.

·         On behalf of Cowes Town Council I attended the Lord Lieutenant Awards at the Royal Yacht Squadron which celebrated Military Service Personnel and volunteers throughout the Island.  The evening was fantastic and is a testament to those involved in and promoting our military services.  One surprising fact that was highlighted is that nationally the Isle of Wight has a larger proportion of veterans than any other UK region.

·         I attended a drop-in at the Apex Church, and provided support to a number of residents in hardship.

·         I have been asked to contact Enterprise Inns over the closure of the Pier View.  Residents have asked me to find out why the decision was taken by the business to close a focal point of the town during this summer.  In the meantime, The Pier View is being refurbished, and a new licensing application has been processed.

·         A meeting has taken place to agree the management plan and future for Mornington Woods, and considering the potential overview of Mornington Park and use of the Car Park.

·         I attended a Men In Sheds event which was organised by the Storeroom.  Men In Sheds projects have been promoted nationally to provide men with a venue to meet up and keep active, particularly in retirement.  I met a number of men at the event who had other mobility and potential social isolation issues, which the project helps to support. Apart from sheds, there are also a multitude of other initiatives working complimenting the project i.e gardening, selling goods etc.

·         I attended Cowes Enterprise College’s Noel Turner Physics Festival.  True to form this was a brilliant event promoting science and engineering in our wider community. 

·         The Cowes Town Council newsletter has now been distributed to householders.  Please contact the Town clerks on 209022 if you have not received yours. 

·         Work continues on murals for The Cut in Cowes.  Disappointingly timescales on completing the project may slip owing to Island Roads’ commitment to complete the St Mary’s Roundabout reconfiguration.

Also this month:

·         Following a complaint to me, which was upheld by Environmental Health the Fire Pit at Cockleton Meadow has been removed.

·         I’ve requested that damaged and removed No Barbecue signs are replaced on Gurnard Green  This will take place prior to next year’s summer season.

·         I am awaiting a response from planners regarding public slipway access to East Cowes anglers.  Update: It now seems unlikely this slipway will be removed for Red Funnel's Planning Application.  If it is, a legal agreement has been agreed to relocate this to an alternative location.

·         There has been a number of delays regarding the provision of planning support at the IW Council.  This has resulted in two formal complaints which are being pursued.

·         I attended a meeting of the AONB Partnership.  At the Partnership, updates were given on the Isle of Wight Biosphere application; Proposals for a Dark Skies park being created for the South Western quarter of the Island; Regeneration of Coastal Towns and proposals for Norris Castle.

·  I notified Island Roads following confusion over carriageway resurfacing timescales last month in Solent View Road.