Surgeries.
5:30-6pm,
Monday 1st December, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.
10:30-11am, Tuesday 9th December, Gurnard Press and Bistro, Worsley Road,
Gurnard.
Christmas
Break.
Please do not hesitate to contact me over
Christmas. If you require support, it is
easiest to text me on: 07 935 090 835, this I aim to respond to within 12 hours
of receipt.
Lionheart
School.
Consultation is underway on expanding
provision on the new satellite Lionheart School on the former Cowes Primary
School site. Proposals are to create an
additional 60 places totalling 120 providing support for children with complex anxiety
needs. The school provides short term (often 12 weeks) referral support for
children from mainstream schooling. Consultation continues until 9th January.
For details visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/council-and-councillors/consultations-and-engagement/consultations-and-surveys/
Rew
Street Post Box.
The Post Box at the junction with West View
Road was removed by the Royal Mail. This
was due to snails/ slugs squatting in the post box chomping on mail.
I have asked the Royal Mail to advise when
the box will be replaced, as no consultation took place on any permanent
removal. On this, I’m awaiting a reply
although the Cockleton Lane box took almost a year!
Road
Closures.
·
Rew Street: At the time
of writing the replacement of water drains was running ahead of schedule, and
the optimist in me is hopeful that work will conclude ahead of its 23rd January deadline.
·
Park Road: A huge thank
you to superstar residents of Crossfield Avenue, who assisted in their support
to ensure that buses are diverted through the Estate whilst Gas Mains are
replaced.
·
Horsebridge Hill: I understand
that the road closure to replace water mains should mirror the closure that
took place earlier this year. Work is due to start on 26th January. Once I have them, updates will be shared.
Speaking to Southern Water, given water mains
are 150 years old I was told once new infrastructure is in place this will mean
less disruption on the Newport/ Cowes Road.
Fireworks.
If celebrating the New Year with
fireworks, please let your neighbours know. This follows recent incidents of
residents, livestock and pets being and startled by loud bangs. This occurred
recently during a party in Baring Road, as well as on nearby farmland in
Cockleton Lane.
To drop a note through neighbours
doors is generally well received so to allow for preparations are made.
Cowes Floating Bridge.
The Economy, Regeneration, Transport
& Infrastructure Committee confirmed support to replace the crossing. It
was agreed to investigate a new smaller vessel with a view to increase
crossings from 3 to 5 per hour, whilst seeking to address issues including
chain depth, noise, the impact of winds and tide, and the need for a tow
boat. I am in support this would create
better value for money for the IW Council.
Footprint Trust: Free home energy guidance and help.
If struggling with
bills, call the Trust on 01983 822282,
or email: info@footprint-trust.co.uk Please visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/keep-the-island-safe/cost-of-living/health-and-wellbeing/community-support/ for support.
In the
meantime, the Trust asks that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are tested.
Parking.
Please think before you park. My most common complaint come from residents
where vehicular accesses and site lines are blocked, where vehicles park
opposite entrances and from HGV drivers unable to pass badly parked cars.
Although I keep nagging, this is because I
want to avoid more unnecessary double yellow lines!
With respect to appalling parking, I
witnessed one resident popping into the local shop in Gurnard who parked fully
obscuring the roadway entrance to Glen Place.
Although residents can be ticketed for parking on the white line (access
protection bar) that defines the access to the development, missing the white
line is one thing, but missing the access road is something totally
different! Because of this a request has
been made for improved enforcement.
The
IW Council Dysfunctional?
Commissioned by the IW Council, an
independent report found the IW Council to be dysfunctional.
In recent reports, I’ve reiterated concerns
over the unwillingness by some Councillors to work together. This came to a head with successive policies
being dithered, delayed and denied. Recent examples include the Council’s
Planning Strategy, school reorganisation, pensions and requests from
neighbouring Councils to prepare for restructuring being discarded.
From my
perspective, I’m proud to be conciliatory by working with residents, officers
and other Councillors. I find by doing this gives me the support I require to
achieve the best outcomes!
Island Planning Strategy.
Full Council
agreed to progress consultation on the Island Planning Strategy. Although I am far from happy by the reduced
level of affordable housing and annual housing targets which I believe will be
unobtainable, consultation is due to take place for the statutory six week
period from 1st December
until 12th January.
On a
positive note, whilst ‘affordable housing’ might fail to be properly affordable
for Island residents, there are proposals to provide local Island residents
with deeper discounts for rent and sale. For details please visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/island-planning-strategy/latest-news-and-updates/
Gurnard Local Housing Needs Survey.
Locally in
Gurnard the Parish Council met with housing enablers to further improve
opportunities for local residents to climb the housing ladder.
It is hoped
in the coming months to locally consult with residents on issues being
faced. It is hoped that discussions can
take place in close liaison with Northwood Parish Council whose residents
suffer similar challenges.
McDonalds
Planning Application, Three Gates Road.
This month will see the first of the formal
planning applications for a proposed new McDonalds drive thru’ proposed for
Three Gates Road, Cowes.
This follows pre-application consultations
earlier this year. This will be
publicised once further details are known.
Scams.
Current
Scams focusing on targeting residents include:
·
Scam Texts claiming to be from EE advising
they couldn’t accept direct debit payments.
·
Fake Adverts on Wightbay. Particularly those
advertising kittens for sale.
·
Scam emails purporting to be from the NHS
Prescription Service.
·
Scam Texts from the DWP advising that you
need to claim for your winter fuel payments.
Visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/business-and-consumer/trading-standards-service/iwasp-isle-of-wight-against-scams-partnership/current-scams/, or call
01983 823371 for details.
King
Charles III Coastal Path Liabilities.
With the new national Coastal Trail being
rolled out across the Island, I have been approached by landowners seeking
clarity on added protection for landowners from liabilities over the trail.
Details have been provided to those affected. For details visit: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/part/9/data.html
Remembrance
Day.
It was an honour to again lay the IW
Council’s wreath to commemorate our fallen heroes at last month’s service of
Remembrance at Gurnard Church this year. Thank you to those who joined paying
their respect.
Elections for Hampshire and Solent and
Mayoral Authority.
Mayoral
Authority Elections are due to take place (at the same time as IW Council
Elections) on Thursday 7th May.
At the
moment four candidates have been declared, these being Anna Collar (Green);
Lorna Fielker (Labour); Donna Jones (Conservative) and Martin Tod (Liberal
Democrat). Reform UK has yet to declare,
however I’ve heard speculation the candidate may be Jim Davison, Matt Le
Tissier or Chris Parry. Candidates don’t have to officially declare until 9th
April and as no candidate is so far an Islander there is plenty of time to
throw your hat in the ring!
Isle of Wight Council Elections May 2026.
Next year,
I am looking forward again to be on the campaign trail for local elections, and
intend starting early calling at every household. Please let me know should you
not require a visit!
Cowes
High Street Shopping Evening: 5-8pm, Thursday 4th December.
A big thank you to Cowes Harbour Commission
who are paying for the Christmas Tree located at the bottom of Market
Hill. Throughout the event there will be
Festive Food and Drink available, whilst visitors from the mainland can take
advantage of Red Funnel who are offering discounted travel, for further
information please visit: https://www.redfunnel.co.uk/isle-of-wight-guide/things-to-do/special-events/cowes-late-night-christmas-shopping
During this festive season, please, please
remember the importance of using local shops and services. Without our thriving town and village centres
would be much poorer.
Small Business Saturday.
The IW
Council will again be sharing its yuletide happiness with shoppers on Small
Business Saturday. Free Parking will be in place from 12-6pm on Saturday 6th December in all
IW Council’s off-street, long-stay
Car Parks.
Highway Matters.
·
A request went out to ask for extra gritting
on Egypt Hill and Castle Hill. Details of local gritting routes can be found: https://islandroads.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Gritting-P1P2-Route-6-Plan-Nov-2014-Update-1.jpg
·
Following numerous requests from myself and
local residents the depression at the junction with Solent View Road in Worsley
Road was infilled. I am unsure how and when this happened, as on this occasion
I received no complaints so am putting this down to the Island Roads pixies.
·
Please attempt to spare me receiving Yuletide
pictures of overflowing dog bins by disposing of your poo in the nearest litter
bin or taking this home.
·
Last month, I had the good fortune of
speaking to the lovely Jenny from Gurnard In Bloom, who has been asked to
create more grass planters on locations on grass verges where motorists choose
to park vehicles.
Southern Inshore Fisheries Conservation
Authority visits the Isle of Wight.
Having
joined officers visiting fishing communities across the region (including Lyme
Regis, Weymouth and Swanage), it was an absolute pleasure for me as Chair to
visits and support the views of communities on the Island.
These visits
offer a real opportunity to engage with and actually listen face to face with
those working within what is a really challenging industry. To locally utilise
the expertise of officers responsible for both conservation and enforcement
proved to be well received by communities in Bembridge, Freshwater, Ventnor and
Yarmouth. One issue that I will be taking up is the additional costs being
borne by fishermen needing to travel (via ferries) to take their catch to
traders off Island. For some this is a
more lengthy trip to Brixham.
In the next
few months drop-in’s will call at Mudeford, Poole (January), Warsash and
Portsmouth (March).
Flooding and Coastline erosion.
While I am
no longer a Cabinet Member for Flooding and Coastline, I continue to represent
the Island as the IW Council’s representative on the Southern Regional Flood
and Coastal Committee.
Because
Defra are redeploying funding, schemes for the South of England are now focused
on construction schemes that are currently in progress. Whilst I received colleague support for
commitment to Ventnor, this may mean that future projects for Shanklin and
Yaverland being delayed for a year. This
is being challenged.
Sandbags:
An alternative?
As flooding from Surface Water is becoming
more prevalent, so is the need for lightweight solutions to the traditional
sandbag. One such alternative is the
FloodSax. For details visit: https://www.floodsax.co.uk/
These alternatives can be stored, and will
expand on contact with water making them more mobile than sandbags. At the
moment, following recent events in Northwood this is one option being
considered by Northwood Parish Council to support their community.
Gurnard
Parish Council Consultation.
Thank you to all residents who joined
November’s consultation on projects to be prioritised for next year within the
Parish precept. Because of new commitments,
it is hoped that like previous years budget this will (if not frozen, due to
the growing number of electors moving into the village) will be between
2-3%.
Road Crossing Patrol Vacancy:
The Road
Crossing Patrol vacancy for Gurnard Primary School remains. If interested, please call 01983 823714 or
visit: https://www.iow.gov.uk/jobs/detail/5687
General Waste.
Last month, with Christmas
approaching I was asked to feedback from Waste Services what now counts as
Black Bin (General Waste). In response,
I’m advised this includes the following:
|
·
animal waste and litter
(bagged) |
·
broken crockery and Pyrex |
·
bubble wrap |
|
·
wrapping paper (with glitter
or from foil) |
·
cold ash |
·
foil food pouches |
|
·
silver foil crisp bags/
sweet wrappers |
·
contaminated food packaging |
·
incontinence wear |
|
·
wet wipes (baby, beauty and
cleaning) |
·
nappies |
·
Polystyrene |
|
·
sanitary/feminine hygiene
wear |
·
underwear |
·
used tissues |
|
·
household sweepings/ vacuum
bags |
·
medicinal blister packs |
·
Clingfilm |
Christmas Waste Collections.
Details of this
years Waste Collections, are usually provided by IWC Waste Services at the end
of the first week of December. Once I
have details, these will be posted on my website.
Hedgehog Corner: Hibernation Season.
Although many species are less active over
winter in the UK, only three enter true hibernation: hazel dormice, our native
bats and hedgehogs.
Depending on the weather and their body
condition, they usually hibernate from around November through to March or
April depending on the weather. Research has shown that they're may move
nesting sites at least once during this period, so if you spot one out and
about it may be that they need food, or they might just be looking for a new
spot to nest.
Log and leaf piles are one of their favourite
places to nest and hibernate, so please do read the tips below for how to check
bonfires for hedgehogs before lighting them.
Also This Month.
·
I
attended a meeting of Cowes Experience.
Matters discussed included suggestions for creating an app. for the
Cowes bicentennial event.
·
I
have contacted the National Banking Hub Service concerning the potential of
creating a hub in Cowes.
·
Contact
has again been made regarding perceived Planning Enforcement issues.
·
I
responded to a request by the Independent Renumeration Panel concerning
Councillors allowances.
·
I
supported Full Council proposals and local measures to support men’s
health.
·
I
am seeking opportunities to expand Community Orchards across the Isle of Wight.
·
Following
perceived inaction, I have made approaches to seek funding opportunities to
retain Military Road.
·
I
attended this year’s Cowes Harbour Commission’s Annual General Meeting.
·
I
have chased up where residents leave household refuse at both Westwood Close
and Ashton Terrace, Cowes.
·
Depending
on its cost I support the potential to stream local council meetings.
·
At
the IWC Planning Committee, proposals to improve the East Cowes Red Funnel
Terminal was approved. This, Councillors were advised would improve traffic
issues in the Town. In addition a
proposal to demolish the old Social Services HQ on Fairlee Road, with
affordable housing to buy was approved.
·
Following
Government Cutbacks, I attended a Transport for SE meeting to discuss future
funding options.
·
I’ve
made representations on behalf of residents over the age of 80, no longer
qualifying for RSV immunisations.
Wishing
all residents a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
