IW Councillors Report: September

Surgeries:

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 4^th September, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 4^th September, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 11^th September, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 18^th September, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

1-1:30pm, Wednesday 26^th September, Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

3-3:30pm, Wednesday 26^th September, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Avenue, Cowes.

4:30-5pm Tuesday 2^nd October, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 2^nd October, Sports Bar, Isle of Wight Community Club, Park Road, Cowes.

Road Surfaces.

The IW Council responded to concerns over the failure of the surface dressing binder on certain roads on the Island, which includes Newport Road.

I’m advised the contractor accepted liability and will undertake necessary remedial works after the summer season.

Following a request made through me by a local resident, over the lack of skid resistance warning signs, I requested additional warning signs which have now appeared on Newport Road.

The response from the Director, I emailed to Local Councillors, and concerned local residents last month.

PFI Update.

An Extra Ordinary Meeting of the Isle Of Wight Council was held on the 22^nd August, to agree with proceeding with the Island’s PFI, under the Vinci Meridium Consortium.

Although like several residents, I’ve had questions about the Council’s Highway’s Private Finance Initiative (most which are robustly answered), I am very much in support of the PFI initiative. The PFI will provide much needed investment into the Island’s roads, and from my perspective when I discuss issues with residents, the condition of our roads and pavements always feature high in the issues residents consider important.

Inevitably, there will be considerable disruption over the next seven years, however I have been appeased by Officers that safeguards will be in place to ensure the Island’s Economy is not adversely affected.

Localisation of Council Tax Support.

Next year, the amount of funding the IW Council receive from government will be reduced by 10%.

As part of the government’s welfare reform programme, the existing scheme for people who claim Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a localised Council Tax Support scheme from 1^st  April, 2013.  The thinking behind these reforms are to get more working aged people into employment.

Earlier this week I attended a seminar to look at options, a brief Councillors on how this is likely to progress.  The options that are available to make up any shortfall includes options to 1. Raise Council Tax; 2. Reduce Expenditure and 3. Introduce a requirement for some of those residents currently in receipt of the benefit to contribute towards the cost of the council tax levied on their property.  Consultation on options will begin from 24^th September.

The final decision as to how Council Tax Benefit entitlement will be applied, and to whom will be considered by the IW Councillors following imminent consultation. At present it seems likely pensioners entitlement will remain intact.

Feedback on Blood Testing Waiting Times, St Mary’s Hospital.

Thank you to residents who contacted me following the appeal which I made in response to Blood Tests.

Dr Stainer from Cowes Medical Centre advised me that the Surgery had investigated taking blood themselves, however given issues which included parking availability in Cowes this proved problematic.

Cowes Medical Centre’s Patients Group also looked into this, and because of imminent changes at St Mary’s Hospital, no further action was taken.  I will continue to monitor, and continue to welcome feedback from residents on this matter.

Trading Standards: Speculative Cold Calls.

I’ve referred to Trading Standards complaints made over hard selling techniques being used by security firms.  If you’ve received such calls please contact Trading Standards 01983 823370.

Have you received  a ‘phone call concerning compute gliches? As I reported earlier this year such calls are bogus and residents are reminded not to disclose personal information.  As always, if a call sounds too good to be true, this is usually because it is!

New Powers for Community Support Officers.

Throughout this summer, I have lost count of the telephone calls that I have received from residents who have complained about cyclists using the pavement on Cowes/ Gurnard Seafront.

I therefore welcome new powers that have been introduced by the Hampshire Constabulary giving our Council’s Community Support Officers powers to issue fixed penalties (£30) to cyclists using footpaths.  Other powers CSO’s now have include confiscation of alcohol in restricted areas and confiscation of alcohol/ tobacco in the procession of those under 18. 

Youth Advisors.

One project, I was anxious to see come to fruition earlier this year was the appointment of Youth Advisors to sit on local Town and Parish Council.  This was made all the more important, as I was advised that Cowes Youth Forum also had no young people within their Committee.

Following no Advisors being appointed by Cowes Enterprise College, I approached the Isle of Wight Youth Council, to request their support in filling vacancies at Cowes Town Council and Northwood Parish Council.

Following this approach, I can report that a Youth Councillor has been nominated to join Cowes Town Council’s Town Improvements, Northwood Recreation Ground Committee and Cowes Youth Forum.

Once the new school opens later this year, I am anxious to ensure that the College takes advantage of the offer made by local Council’s.

Cowes Enterprise College.

During August, I received a number of telephone calls, visits and emails from parents and students concerned about delays being caused in relocating to the new school site in Crossfield Avenue.

From what I am advised, the relocation has had to be put back by 6 weeks, following the weather conditions which restricted the contractors meeting the timeframe they were asked to keep to.  Further to concerns which were raised, I am happy to report that children will return to school as normal on 4^th September!

Cowes Library- Book Signing Opportunity

Adrian Searle will be at Cowes Library on Thursday 6th September 7 - 9pm to talk and sign copies of his new book 'The Spy Beside the Sea, the extraordinary wartime story of Dorothy O'Grady'. You can bring your own copy, whilst Waterstones Bookshop will be at the event to sell copies of the book. The event is a free and tickets are available from Cowes Library. Refreshments will be provided by the Supporters of Cowes Library.

For further details contact the Library on 293341.

DEFRA Consultation on the Isle of Wight Coastal Path.

There is currently a consultation underway to include the Isle of Wight under the terms of the above act.

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 provides for a coastal trail to be established around the whole English coast.

Here on the Isle of Wight we are short of having a comprehensive Coastal Path as half of the existing path runs either inland or along public roads. More than 10 miles of our northern coastline between Yarmouth and Ryde have no public access or footpath.

A study commissioned by the Countryside Agency identified the South West Coastal Path is worth over £300 million each year to that region's economy. Pro rata that to the Isle of Wight coast line, could be worth £34 million pa and support circa 800 jobs for our Island economy.

The Isle of Wight is not automatically included under the provisions of the 2009 Act. A special Order will need to be prepared and signed at the discretion of the Environment Minister for us to be covered. If DEFRA and Natural England continue with their original outline plans Coastal Access for the Island will not be considered before 2019.  

Following several months of campaigning by the IOW Ramblers, DEFRA have now issued a consultation paper to seek opinions on both whether such an order should be signed and also what priority should be given to the Island for the implementation of the 2009 Act.

Organisations and residents can submit their views to this Consultation through the following link to DEFRA's website- http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/2012/07/24/iow-access-mcaa/.  The deadline for this consultation ends 16^th November.

In the Last month:

·        Gurnard’s Pre-School Planning Application was approved, following this being signed off under delegated powers.  The Pre-school had met with neighbours to overcome issues that were of concern, and on balance I considered the grounds for refusing this application to be untenable in light of local support.

·         Cliff Cottage was also narrowly Approved by the IW Council’s Planning Committee, by 5 votes to 4.

·         I was approached by Age UK to intervene, after concerns were raised by residents that seating and litter bins were not replaced on Cowes Seafront following the Queens visit. Following passing on residents’ requests, action was taken to replace seating and bins for Cowes Week.

·         During Cowes Week, I had to get the intervention of the IW Council and Police to move a parked motor home, which was causing an obstruction in Princes Esplanade.

·         Work has begun to replace fencing on the Coastal Path between Gurnard and Thorness.

·         I called another meeting between the IW Council and Gurnard Parish Council, to progress the disposal of the former Gurnard School Playing Field and Orchard. I remain positive that the Parish Council will favourably consider maintaining the Playing Field and Orchard and providing public access until this is formally marketed. In the meantime, the IW Council has arranged to cut the Playing Field.

·         The IW Council, has had to temporarily fix one of Southern Water’s manhole covers that has remained hazardous since July.

·         I organised a meeting with IW Council’s Street Lighting Department and Southern Electricity to discuss ideas put by the CBA for Christmas Lighting at a recent meeting. In order to place an order for this year, the CBA were advised details would need to be supplied later this month.

·         I organised for a local Baring Road resident to have weeds brambles removed from his garden, as these had spread from nearby IW Council owned land.

·         I called a meeting with the Secretary of Cowes Golf Club, following complaints received over the removal of shrubbery from the Golf courses perimeter. Since then, Ive been asked to resolve an issue relating to stray Golf Balls landing in a particular property in Baring Road..

·        I have passed on information to residents concerning the spread of Japanese Knotweed.  In Baring Road Knotweed has needed to be treated due to this undermining the pavement.

·       I undertook a letterdrop and organised a meeting with Planning Policy Officers and Parish Councillors following concerns being raised over SHLAA sites.

·    I am in the process of dealing with a complaint concerning Parking Permits.

·   I was very happy to endorse Cowes Harbour Commissions’ Cowes Breakwater Project.

·    I have posted my Register Of Interests On-line, through my blog.  I hope shortly, to post this via iwight.com.

·      I have been asked to support residents living adjacent to Solent Lawns woodland.  Residents have requested my support in seeing a management plan for the woodland is put in place.

·     I accompanied Andrew Turner MP on his surgeries when he came to Cowes Co-Op and Gurnard.

·        I was invited to a Coffee Morning at Briary Court, and was asked to deal with ten action points relating to concerns held by residents.  I am awaiting a response from officers as to these outcomes and a further invitation has been received for this month.

·       I asked officers to deal with obstructive bollards (Park Road), hedgerows (Cockleton Lane, Winding Way, Place Road, Newport Road), noisy generators (Rew Street), and uncollected refuse (Crossfield Avenue). 
Within the Planning Committee, I supported proposals for a photovoltaic system on AONB land at Whitwell. 

Register of Interest

REGISTER OF INTERESTS

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL/ NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL/ COWES TOWN COUNCIL/ GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL.

All Councils require Members to complete this register within 28 days of their election.  If your circumstances change you are required, within 28 days of the change, to submit written notification of the change to the Monitoring Officer.

Name of Member…PAUL FULLER

I set out below my interests and those I am aware of relating to my spouse /partner under the various headings.

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests:

These are interests that are required to be declared by the Localism Act 2011 and the Relevant Authorities (Disclosable Pecuniary Interests) Regulations 2012.  These declarations relate to you AND any interests you are aware of relating to your spouse or civil partner or a person you live with as husband and wife or as if you were civil partners

Please put “None” where appropriate.

1. Employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

This includes any firm or company in which you, or your spouse, or your partner are a business partner or director.

MY INTEREST: ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR (FOR COWES WEST AND GURNARD)

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER:  SELF EMPLOYED CLEANER AND PROPRIETER OF KAREN’S CRAFTS

2. Sponsorship

Any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from Council activities) made or provided in respect of any expenses incurred by you or your spouse or partner in carrying out duties as a member or towards the election expenses of you or your spouse or partner. This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

MY INTEREST: PRIOR TO SERVING AS AN ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR IN 2009, THE GROUP STANDARDS NOT TIERS ENDORSED MY CANDIDATURE IN AN ADVERT FOR THE ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY PRESS.

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER: NONE

3. Contracts

Any contract which is made between Parish/ Town Councils or the Isle of Wight Council and either:

a) you; your spouse; or your partner; or

b) firm in which either you or your spouse or partner is a business partner; or

c) a body corporate of which you or your spouse or partner is a director; or

d) a body in which you or your spouse or partner has a beneficial interest (that is a firm in which you or your spouse/partner is a business partner or a corporate body in which you or your spouse/partner is a director or an industrial and prudent society where you or your spouse or partner are a member of the management committee or a corporate body in which you or your spouse/partner have a beneficial interest in its securities  

(a) under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

(b) which has not been fully discharged.

MY INTEREST: NONE

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER: NONE

4. Land

Any beneficial interest in land which is within the Isle of Wight, excluding an easement, servitude, interest or right in or over land which does not carry with it a right for you or your spouse or partner alone or jointly with another to occupy the land or to receive income.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.

MY INTEREST:

74 WYATTS LANE, NORTHWOOD, COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT PO31 8QA

I HAVE CLOSE FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING NEARBY AT:

29 PALLANCE ROAD, NORTHWOOD, COWES.

(Grandparents)

19 CORONATION AVENUE NORTHWOOD, COWES.

(Parent)

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER:  

74 WYATTS LANE, NORTHWOOD, COWES, ISLE OF WIGHT PO31 8QA

5. Licences

Any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the Isle of Wight for a month or longer.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.

MY INTEREST: NONE

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER: NONE

6. Corporate tenancies

Any tenancy where (to your  knowledge) the landlord is the Isle of Wight Council and the tenant is a body in which you or your spouse or partner, has a beneficial interest.

Please give address or description sufficient to identify the location.

MY INTEREST: NONE

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER: NONE

7. Securities

Any beneficial interest in securities (shares, debentures, debenture stock, loan stock, bonds, units of a collective investment scheme within the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and other securities of any description other than money deposited with a building society) of a body where that body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the Isle of Wight; and either

(i) the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

(ii) if the share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

MY INTEREST: NONE

INTEREST OF SPOUSE/PARTNER: NONE

ADDITIONAL INTERESTS AGREED BY COUNCILS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE MEMBERS REGISTER OF INTERESTS.

Only your interests are required for these; not those of your spouse/partner.

1.    I am a member of or hold a position of general control or management in the following bodies to which I have been appointed or nominated by the authority as its representative:

COWES COMMUNITY BUS FORUM (Northwood Parish Council Representative);  NORTHWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL (Isle of Wight Council Local Authority Representative), LOCAL ACCESS FORUM (Isle of Wight Council Representative), ISLE OF WIGHT AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB) PARTNERSHIP (IW Council Representative- Deputy), GURNARD COMMUNITY TRUST (Independent Representative); COWES YOUTH CLUB (Independent Representative); ISLE OF WIGHT FOOTPRINT TRUST (Independent Representative); THE FRIENDS OF NORTHWOOD CEMETERY (Trustee)

2.    I am a member of or hold a position of general control or management in the following:

a.    Public authorities or bodies exercising functions of a public nature:

NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL, NORTHWOOD PARISH PLAN WORKING PARTY, NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL’S TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

COWES TOWN COUNCIL, COWES TOWN COUNCIL’S TOWN IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, COWES TOWN COUNCIL’S NORTHWOOD RECREATION GROUND COMMITTEE, THE LOCAL ACTION GROUP (Deputy for Cowes Town Council)

GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL, GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL’S COMMUNITY PROJECTS COMMITTEE, GURNARD PARISH COUNCIL’S NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN COMMITTEE. 

AS AN IW COUNCILLOR I SERVE ON THE REGULATORY COMMITTEE (WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR PLANNING & LICENSING); THE OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE, THE ECONOMY & ENVIRONMENT SCRUTINY COMMITTEE; THE CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE AND THE APPEALS PANEL AND OFTEN DEPUTISE AS INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR ON THE HEALTH & WELLBEING SCRUTINY COMMITTEE.

I AM ALSO A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, WHO SITS ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT BENCH- WHO SERVES ON THE YOUTH PANEL AND DOMESTIC ABUSE PANEL.

MY DAUGHTER, ZARA WAS ELECTED TO SERVE AS A YOUTH COUNCILLOR FOR FROM DECEMBER 2012.   

b.    company, industrial and provident society, charity, or body directed to charitable purposes;

NONE.  I ALSO WISH TO FORMALLY PLACE ON RECORD THAT I AM NOT A FREEMASON, OR MEMBER OF ANY LIKE ORGANISATION.

c.    body whose principal purposes include the influence of public opinion or policy;

NONE.  I ADD THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN A PAID UP MEMBER OF ANY POLITICAL PARTY SINCE LEAVING THE GREEN PARTY IN 1994.

d.    trade union or professional association.

NONE.

DATED: 30th August 2012; Updated: 30th December 2012.

Councillors Report for August/ September

Surgeries:


4:30-5pm Tuesday 14th August, Cowes Library, Beckford Road Cowes.

12:30-1:30pm, Tuesday 28th August, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade Gurnard

4:30-5pm, Tuesday 4^th September, Cowes Library, Beckford Road, Cowes.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 4^th September, Sports Bar, IW Community Club, Park Rd., Cowes.

6-6:30pm, Tuesday 11^th September, The Woodvale, Princes Esplanade, Gurnard.

5:30-6pm, Tuesday 18^th September, The Portland, Worsley Road, Gurnard.

1-1:30pm, Wednesday  26^th September, Little Gloster, Marsh Road, Gurnard.

3-3:30pm, Wednesday 26^th September, Cowes Enterprise College, Crossfield Av., Cowes.

Road Surfaces.

The IW Council responded to concerns over the failure of the surface dressing binder on certain roads on the Island, which includes Newport Road.

I’m advised the contractor has accepted liability and will undertake necessary remedial works after the summer season.

Following a request made through me by a local resident (thanks, Chris!), over the lack of skid resistance warning signs, I requested additional warning signs which have now appeared on Newport Road.

A full response from the Director, Stuart Love features below:

Dear member

In light of the problems we have encountered with our surface dressing programme this year, I thought it would be helpful to give you an appraisal of the situation to date and the options for the future.

Background

A surface dressing programme was developed for implementation in 2012/13 intended to ensure skid resistance on roads met the minimum requirement and to seal surfaces to prevent the roads and road structures breaking up the effects of the winter freeze/thaw cycles. While the PFI will provide a comprehensive overhaul of the roads network, we nevertheless need to keep our network up to at least minimum standards.

Kiely Brothers were appointed to deliver the programme. Kiely Brothers are national surface dressing  contractors and have delivered similar programmes for the council over a number of years with no significant defects .  

The surface dressing programme was completed in April with the exception of three sites where work was postponed by wet weather. These remain to be completed.

Initial Binder Failure May 2012

In common with a number of other authorities, we faced some difficulties in May of this year with the failure of the binder used in the process. I am happy to give members a more detailed explanation but, in simple terms, what went wrong was that at the time the surface was laid, we saw a sudden increase from cold damp conditions with 12 degree temps to 25-27 degree temperatures almost overnight. This rapid rise (rather than the high temperatures alone) caused the surfacing material used to bind the dressing to be unstable – or ‘melt’ as the media report it.

The problem was intensified on roads with high traffic flows and heavy vehicles where the movement of vehicles over the sticky surface plucked the chippings out of the binder.

Kiely Brothers accepted full liability for the failure of the binder and committed to fund both the immediate intervention, longer term remedial works and compensation claims arising from damage to vehicles or accidents arising form the surface condition. A relatively small number of claims for ‘associated damage to vehicles have been passed to Kiely Brothers.

Further Binder Failure July 2012

Temperatures again increased beyond 25 degrees during the week commencing 23 July 2012 and we suffered an unexpected softening of the binder which was not anticipated. Although the road temperatures rose as high as 50 degrees the binder should have remained stable and this failure was not replicated as widely on the mainland as we found earlier in the year.

The same immediate treatment of dusting was undertaken. This proved effective in reducing the mobility of the binder which stabilised in the subsequent lower temperatures.

The ‘dusting’ process.

This short-term remedial treatment involves covering the affected surfaces with additional 0-3mm sized granite chippings. This reduces the temperature of the road surface and also prevents unstable binder bleeding out into the road surface (melting).

Though successful in its engineering aims, this process has raised some concerns for public health. However short-term exposure to such respirable granite dust does not create any long term health risk although may – as with any airborne particles - cause short term reversible effects such as an, irritation of the eyes nose and throat among those working at close quarters with the material or breathing in the dust in sufficient quality.

In view of the reported nuisance caused to some residents – primarily those in the main urban areas affected (the Cowes to Newport Road) we will be looking at using an alternative material in future (see Future Actions below).

Future actions

In response to comments received about the dust created by using granite, we will, if further treatment is required, trial the use of washed grit as a replacement for granite chippings in residential areas. This material should have the same positive effects in terms of stabilising the road surface but should not create the dust problems encountered. We will obviously review the success of this approach and, if successful in all aspects, may extend its use as appropriate. 

We will be keeping a close eye on temperatures this weekend as they are forecast to be around the level at which we have previously experienced difficulties with the surface dressing and we may need to treat some or all of the affected areas over the next few days.

As regards a longer term solution, this secondary failure of the binder throws a very different light on the situation as the current surface cannot now be relied upon to provide a stable base to which we can apply remedial treatments and the excess binder will need to be removed to ensure that we have a stable base before remedial treatments are applied.

Consequently the excess binder will need to be removed to ensure the new surface can be laid. There are various techniques that can do this and we are examining which will be most appropriate. However whichever method is chosen, disruption to traffic flow is inevitable. Therefore we intend to undertake this work later in the year and after the main holiday season.

Once the binder has been removed we will be able to see the extent of damage to the road surfaces properly and undertake immediate repairs to keep those safe. The final remedial treatment will be determined by the extent of damage which we find and will vary on different parts of the network.

We remain on standby should further high temperatures bring about further problems. We are also considering pre-emptive dusting on the routes to and from future major events such as Cowes Week, the garlic festival and the Bestival.

A communications plan has been prepared (of which this briefing is a part) to ensure members and residents are kept abreast of developments.

I hope you feel this information is useful and please feel free to use this to inform your residents.

Naturally, I will be happy to address any points not covered in this correspondence.

Kind regards

Stuart

Stuart Love | Director of Economy and Environment

Trading Standards: Speculative Cold Calls.

I have referred to Trading Standards complaints made over hard selling techniques being used by security firms.  If you’ve received such calls please contact Trading Standards 01983 823370.

Have you received  a ‘phone call concerning compute gliches? As I reported earlier this year such calls are bogus and residents are reminded not to disclose personal information.  As always, if a call sounds too good to be true, this is usually because it is!

Entitlement to Council Tax Benefits.

Next year, the amount of funding The IW Council receive from the government will be reduced by 10%.

As part of the government’s welfare reform programme, the existing scheme for people who claim Council Tax Benefit will be replaced with a new localised Council Tax Support scheme from April 1, 2013.

The final decision as to how Council Tax Benefit entitlement will be applied, will be considered by the IW Councillors following imminent consultation. At present it seems likely pensioners entitlement will remain intact.

Neighbourhood Plan Consultations, Gurnard.

The deadline for Gurnard’s Neighbourhood Plan survey falls on 10^th September.  If you have an unreturned survey, please ensure this is returned to Rusty Adams, myself, or a member of the Neighbourhood Plan Team by this date.

The extent of responses are brilliant and in many cases exceeds 40%.  This in itself will help give your Plan teeth to be effective.  Many thanks to residents’ who sent out and collected surveys and thanks to all who responded. It is much appreciated! For further details please visit www.gurnardneighbourhoodplan.org.uk.

Because of their proximity to one of Gurnard’s SHLAA sites (Comforts Farm), with Northwood Parish Council’s Chairman, I undertook a letter-drop to residents of Pallance Road.  Because of the impact this could have on Northwood’s residents, I have suggested Northwood Parish Council includes this potential location when consulted upon.

I am advised that Northwood Parish Council will discuss pending action on this, alongside the other 13 sites suggested for Northwood at their meeting on 4^th September.  A meeting with Planners have been confirmed to take place to support Northwood Parish Council with its consultative timetable. For further details contact John Pullen on 281250, or IW Councillor for Northwood Roger Mazillius on 295556

Esplanade Cycling.

I continue to receive complaints about dangerous cyclists using the pavement on the Esplanades.

Because the IW Council was successful in a recent grant to improve access, I’m anxious to know the views and observations of regular uses.  In the meantime, I continue to raise residents’ concerns about incidents to both the Council and Police. 

Planning: Wellow Wind Farm.

In July, I voted with the Offices recommendation to refuse the recent planning application for wind turbines in Wellow.

The main reason why I felt uncomfortable with this application was due to the very close proximity (513m) of the turbines on residential properties and how I felt this would adversely impact upon their living conditions. 

For any application, which alters the local characteristics of an area I feel that it is so important to win over the community which would need to live by this decision on a day to day basis. In this instance, there seemed little support for this proposal by those residents who would be affected, and therefore voted accordingly. 

Feedback on Blood Testing Waiting Times, St Mary’s Hospital.

Thank you to residents who contacted me following the appeal which I made in response to Blood Tests.

Dr Stainer from Cowes Medical Centre advised me that the Surgery had investigated taking blood themselves, however given issues which included parking availability in Cowes this proved problematic.

Cowes Medical Centre’s Patients Group also looked into this, and because of imminent changes at St Mary’s Hospital, no further action was taken.  I will continue to monitor, and continue to welcome feedback from residents on this matter.

Cowes Library- Book Signing Opportunity

Adrian Searle will be at Cowes Library on Thursday 6th September 7 - 9pm to talk and sign copies of his new book 'The Spy Beside the Sea, the extraordinary wartime story of Dorothy O'Grady'. You can bring your own copy, whilst Waterstones Bookshop will be at the event to sell copies of the book. The event is a free and tickets are available from Cowes Library. Refreshments will be provided by the Supporters of Cowes Library.

For further details contact the Library on 293341.

This month:

·         I have arranged meetings with residents and Rights Of Way to help resolve issues in respect to access to Gurnard Luck.

·         Following supporting the perseverance of local residents, I’m advised work will commence in the next year to refurbish the leaking sewage main in Shore Road.

·         During July and August, I bombarded the Isle of Wight Council with over 50 enquiries relating to Highway matters. Action has been taken to cut back hedgerows in Place Road, Baring Road, Cockleton Lane and Winding Way. Whilst I was also kept busy responding to Cowes Week Parking matters.  In the meantime,  I continue to monitor progress of all enquiries made.

·         I’ve requested action following a number of minor accidents and damage caused by vehicles leaving the carriageway in Rew Street.

·         I’ve called a further meeting with the IW Council to resolve the upkeep and disposal of Gurnard School’s former playing field and orchard.

·         I’ve been talking to Cowes Golf Club over a number of enquiries raised by neighbours.

·         Cliff Cottage in Cliff Road was supported by Planning Committee members by 5 votes to 4.

·         This year I was kept busier than usual chasing up replacement of street furniture for Cowes Week following it being removed for the Queen’s visit.