IW Councillor's Report July 2022

 

Surgeries.

4:30-5pm. Monday 4^th July, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm; Tuesday 5^th July, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

10:30-11am; Thursday 7^th July, Gurnard Press, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Wednesday 13^th July, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

10:30-11am, Wednesday 20^th July, Benches adj. Watersedge Kiosk, Shore Road, Gurnard.

11-11:30am, Wednesday 20^th July, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Wednesday 27^th July, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard. 

10:30-11am, Thursday 28^th July, All Saints Church Coffee & Chat, Gurnard.

11:30am-12pm, Thursday 28^th July, Eegon’s, 85 High Street, Cowes.

 

Planning Decisions.

 

·         Sunnycott Caravan Park, Rew Street. (Ref: 22/00726/FUL)

Proposals to increase the number of mobile holiday homes at Sunnycott was refused by officers.  This followed concerns expressed by Gurnard Parish Council at their meeting last month.

 

·         The Dottens, Baring Road. (APP/2114/W/21/3277258)

The decision to increase dwellings at the Dottens was refused by the Planning Inspectorate.  Following feedback, from the Appeal, further concerns were raised concerning the apparent loss of the wildlife corridor conditioned as part of the original application.

 

·         Six dwellings adjacent to Greenacres, Baring Road. (APP/P2114/W/21/3278577)

The application to refuse in March 2021 has been overturned and approved by the Planning Inspectorate. 

 

The Planning Inspector noted that because the IW Council ‘cannot demonstrate a 5 year housing supply’, ‘its plan for housing delivery is out of date’ and by the suggestion within 2012’s Island Plan that the site is ‘immediately adjacent to the settlement boundary’ this application was approved. This observation in itself demonstrates the importance of adopting the Draft Island Planning Strategy to be considered by Full Council in September.

 

For several months now and key to the Council’s recent Peer Review on Planning, it remains imperative that the DIPS is adopted at the earliest opportunity. With major controversial applications pending, it should remain a priority for Councillors.

 

Other Planning issues.

 

Apart for rallying for support acceptance of the Draft Island Planning Strategy, I’ve been asked to:

 

·         Monitor and take appropriate action with respect to the development of new dwellings, which could be used as second homes.  This follows examples of local councils elsewhere implementing Neighbourhood Plans.  Recently St Ives, Salcombe and Whitby have adopted plans, whilst Brighton and Hove is the first city looking to do the same. At present this cannot be incorporated within the DIPS as second home ownership on the Island is not as high as many places. That said, there are some Island spots where second home ownership is beyond the 22% tipping point level. This is a notable issue in Seaview, Yarmouth and Bembridge.  

 

·         Planning Enforcement continues to be a priority. In my new Cabinet Position as Member for Planning and Enforcement, the IW Council are seeking to strengthen the team following the local support of local councils.  This will mean that Planning Case Officers can concentrate on their roles, rather than chasing enforcement matters.  In addition to this role, I continue in my role liaising with Parish Councils as well as now being the Cabinet Member responsible for Flooding.

 

·         Although I have not been Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery for some time (this position is now the responsibility of Deputy Leader, Cllr Ian Stephens- also responsible for Poverty), I continue to be approached by a growing number of residents concerned over the lack of social and affordable housing.

 

·         In my role as Cabinet Member responsible for Building Control in recent months Government has introduced legislation which bans the use of combustible materials on the external walls of buildings.  This follows in the wake of the Grenfell fire.

 

Waste Collections.

 

Please ensure your households refuse and recycling is ready to collect by 7am. Residents are permitted to leave bins from 7pm, the night before.

 

To note back door (or nominated location) collections are free for those residents who are unable to leave their waste and recycling at the kerbside due to impaired mobility.  For other able bodied residents, particularly those who are unable to leave out or collect bins owing to work commitments the IW Council offers a similar collection plus service.  This costs £60 per year, and is available by calling 01983 823777 or emailing waste.contract@iow.gov.uk.

 

Police Matters.

 

·         No Cold Calling.

In the last month, I’ve been advised that Anglian Double Glazing and the Great Ormond Street Hospital charity has been cold calling.  On this, Trading Standards have been approached.  In the meantime, please let me know if your home is without a No Cold Calling sticker.

 

·         Thefts and Burglaries.

The police has asked that during summer, to avoid opportunistic burglaries that front doors are secured and not kept on the catch as walk in burglaries are sadly commonplace at this time of the year.  The police also ask that outbuildings such as sheds and garages are kept locked after use.

 

School Numbers.

 

I have been approached by School Leaders following concerns raised regarding the falling numbers of children entering the school system on the Island.  It is projected that if numbers continue to fall the intake within 5 years could fall from 1,500 to below 1,000.  This will impact upon staffing, school curriculums and the diversity of choice that schools are able to offer and may impact upon some schools remaining open.

 

Highways Matters.

 

·         Hedgerows.

 Following being cutback earlier this spring, the hedgerow which borders the pavement from Cowes Enterprise College needs to be cut back again.  This follows complaints received of low lying brambles. The cutting back of hedgerows has also been requested for Place Road, Crossfield Avenue, Baring Road, Tuttons Hill, Worsley Road, Woodvale Road and Newport Road.

 

With respect to the planting at Bucklers View, Worsley Road I am seeking a long term solution to deal with the overgrowth at this spot.

 

·         Community Speedwatch

Are still seeking volunteers to join them. This month, I hope to join in with the fun in Tuttons Hill.  Please let me know if you wish to volunteer!

 

·         Highway Mirrors.

Over the years, a number of residents have requested mirrors to aid visibility when pulling out of vehicular accesses. Please note these mirrors are not the responsibility of either Island Roads, or the Highway Authority.  The reason for this, is that mirrors can give a wrong perceptive of oncoming traffic and therefore may be responsible for accidents.  Where these do exist they have been placed by private landowners on private land!!   

 

·         Jubilee Tree.

A very big thank you to Bert Jupe for watering the new Tree planted at Pond Green in Lower Church Road, Gurnard to commemorate the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

 

·         Electric Vehicle Charge Points.

When this was first raised two years ago, I thought this would never catch on… However, with escalating fuel costs working with Paul Thorley from Vehicle Consulting Solent we are seeking ideas for where would be an ideal location for a local charge point for vehicles in and around Gurnard… Please let me know your thoughts!

 

·         Improved Car Park Signage.

I have requested signage for the under-utilised Mornington Road Long Stay Car Park.

 

·         Memorial Benches.

Complaints have been received concerning he sensitive matter of flowers, keepsakes and other paraphernalia on memorial benches.  Because of concerns that items/ debris are left and often discarded this causes concerns to residents.  Although benches can be a lovely reminder to those who pass away, please act sensitively when remembering loved ones.

 

Southern Water meeting, Gurnard.

 

This meeting was held following up a previous meeting held by Gurnard Parish Council in January.  It was hoped at this meeting Southern Water would be joined by the Environment Agency who monitors bathing water quality.

 

Southern Water reported its commitment to reduce storm water flows by 80% by 2030.  The company mentioned it was in their companies interest to do so, as with rising fuel costs it is expensive to pump water and attributes nationally to 5% of the national grid. In addition, it was reported that it costs the company £2.60 per litre to dispose of water at Sandown, whilst with a water butt the cost was 12p per litre

 

One of the key problem areas with increased storm water flows, was the fact that non- permeable private parking has exasperated the problem in recent years. It was reported that when creating a parking bay of more than 5m2 planning permission is required!  To assist addressing this and meeting the 80% reduced storm flow target Southern Water highlighted their intention to issue free Water Butts and new-fangled smart water butts to households.

 

It was reported that after Wootton and Havenstreet, Cowes and Gurnard would be the second area chosen for the roll out. This is likely to take place in March 2023.

 

Further discussion was had about raw sewage and why testing does not take place for cryptosporoduim parasites.  These parasites are not necessarily as a result of sewage non treatment as they can be found in the natural environment from Agricultural run-off and naturally from animals and birds in the environment.

 

There was further excited discussion at the meeting regarding discharges from boats/ yachts and some very interesting data on poo and what happens beyond the U-bend…  In the meantime, I am looking forward to working with residents in the FAECES action group, from the Blue Seas Protection Charity and Surfers Against Sewage.

 

Hedgehog Corner.

 

In my capacity as Northwood’s Hedgehog Friendly Councillor, I have more facts about our prickly garden friends:

 

·         A group of hedgehogs is called an ‘array’.

·         A hedgehog has between 5000 and 7000 quills. Each one lasts about a year before dropping out to leave room for its replacement. 

·         There are 17 different species of hedgehog.

·          Hedgehogs have very poor eyesight, so rely on their smell and hearing to navigate. This is the reason they are nocturnal. 

·          Hedgehog quills are not barbed or poisonous. Quills are mostly hollow, each containing air chambers making them light but strong. 

·          Hedgehogs got their name from their love of garden hedges and the grunting noises they make!

·          Hedgehogs are one of only three mammals in the UK that hibernate; the other two being bats and dormice.

·          Hedgehogs are immune to snake venom, meaning that they’d probably snakes in a fight. They could even eat it afterwards!

·          When exposed to putrid smells or tastes, they ‘self-anoint’ by rubbing frothy saliva on their quills. Nobody really knows why!

·         Hedgehogs have small tails, we just don't often notice them under all of their spikes!

·          Their litters are born in numbers ranging from one to eleven. The babies will remain with their mums  for four to seven weeks before going off on their own. Mothers must guard their babies from predators during this period, some of which can actually be other male hedgehogs, who are known to prey upon the young of their species. 

·          Hedgehog mothers have been known to eat their young if the nest is disturbed, often thankfully they just move them to a new nest.

·          Hedgehogs breed between April and September.  Litters born in September seldom survive their first winter.

·          Hedgehogs travel between 1-2km each night!    

·          There are now fewer than one million hedgehogs left in the UK.

 

 Also this month.

 

·         Martin Lewis continues to provide updates on the best deals with the pending energy crisis.  These can alter on a regular basis.  For details please visit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

·         Illegal flags (a skull and cross bone) in Cowes High Street and Highway Accesses have been reported to Planning Enforcement.

·         I have reported ongoing complaints regarding the IW Council’s Planning Portal.

·         I am still awaiting a response from the Watersedge Café, regarding issues received. To find out more visit: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=watersedge%20beach%20cafe%20gurnard

·         I’ve received a complaint concerning coaches parking over on Cowes Parade. In response, I am advised that coaches are free to settle down (this is necessary for their hydraulic breaking systems). However, if coaches wait beyond 30 minutes they are liable for a Penalty Charge Notice.  

·         The IW Council (or their contractors) missed planting up flowerbeds on Queens Road, in time for the Round The Island Race.  In response the contractors are due to put this right and plant up beds before July.   

·         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. This follows incidents where discarded barbecues on beaches has caused burns when trodden on.