Report from I.W. Councillor Roger Mazillius

Posted by Admin on 26 January 2012, 2:15 pm

COUNCILLOR ROGER MAZILLIUS

I.W. COUNCILLOR FOR COWES SOUTH & NORTHWOOD
21 OXFORD STREET, NORTHWOOD
ISLE OF WIGHT PO31 8PT
Tel: 01983 295556
Email: roger.mazillius@iow.gov.uk

REPORT – FEBRUARY 2012

Local Economic Improvements Fund
The I.W. Council has allocated nearly £4,000 (plus just over £19,000 to our bigger neighbour Cowes Town Council) by way of matched funding to pump prime local initiatives to improve the economic well-being of our area. These combined amounts of over £46,000 will therefore be available during 2012 and will need local support. It will be an Agenda item at our February 6th Parish meeting at Northwood Primary School and on the 2nd February at Cowes Town Council’s meeting at St. Mary’s Church Hall. Residents are particularly invited in the meantime to make suggestions for the best use of this money. It can include any improvements to existing local infrastructure, education, viable help with existing projects etc. I would be most pleased to hear from any resident with suggestions for Northwood’s nearly £8,000 and Cowes’ £38,600 as would any of our local Parish and Town Councillors. The deadline for notifying bids to the I.W. Council is 17th February.

Repairs to Main Newport – Cowes Road
I must thank motorists and bus users for their patience whilst these substantial repairs are ongoing. I expect they will be completed by the time most residents are reading this report. At least the numerous repaired potholes and cracks will now link us from Northwood Traffic Lights to the repaired St Mary’s roundabout!

Cowes Library
The Library Supporters’ Christmas book sale was a resounding success, raising over £200. Hundreds of books were donated and with prices ranging from 20p for children’s books to £1 an amazing 500 books were sold. We are very grateful to all the volunteers who set up, manned the tables and then cleared up including Committee members Amber, Jenny, Esther and of course Head Librarian Joyce for what was a long but most enjoyable day. To mark National Libraries Day on Saturday 4th February, the library is holding a Coffee and Cake morning from 10am – 12 noon plus a special children’s story time with a magician from 2.30pm. Please visit and enjoy!

Refuse Collections
The new Christmas period collection arrangements will enable 2012 collections to be made on public bank holidays for the first time meaning that households will retain their usual collection days throughout the year, thus avoiding the need to put refuse out on odd days in the year. The new wheelie bin arrangements will commence on the 30th January and a letter has been delivered to all households with confirmed details of the new arrangements. Please let me know if you have not received your letter. Full details of the changes were included in the last “ONE ISLAND” magazine and in recent large advertisements in The County Press.

Winter Flu Jabs
Our local NHS remind me that there is still time to have this important protection especially if you are over 65 or in the higher risk categories e.g. are pregnant, have heart problems, asthma, diabetes, kidney or liver problems. Please enquire of your local G.P. or the Health Centre or enquire at your Community Pharmacy.

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Northwood Community Partnership members are well advanced with plans and Cowes Town Council is considering several events to mark this wonderful anniversary. I would still be most pleased to receive any suggestions from residents for any Cowes-based events to take place during the first week of June. Fingers are being well and truly crossed after it was announced that Her Majesty would be touring the South East of England in late July. A royal visit then would be a real tonic, especially if Cowes is a destination!
In the meantime Cowes Town Council has asked me to prepare a case for holding a special Charity Music Concert at Cowes Event Centre at the Yacht Haven featuring the very best of local and Islandwide musical talent. More details next month. Nominations for high quality performers would be most welcome although the bill is filling up fast!

Cowes Enterprise College
I was most pleased to attend the “Topping Out” ceremony at the College recently and to see again see the excellent progress being made to this landmark educational and community facility which is on track to open next September with the most modern and innovative educational facility of any Island Secondary School. In due course the old blocks will be demolished, apart from the Sports Centre and the area cleared to present a most acceptable view from Crossfield Avenue.

Primary School Parking
Parents are respectfully reminded to use motor vehicles with care and consideration when delivering or collecting children from school. It is inconsiderate to block access to residents driveways and of course against the law to park on zebra crossing zigzags or on double yellow lines, particularly around junctions. I know that Parking Attendants have been alerted to particular issues of this kind at local schools at the start of the new term so to avoid a £60 parking ticket please think before you park!

Island Plan Core Strategy
I am pleased to report that the Planning Inspector has found the Plan to be sound and the I.W. Council can now adopt the Plan as its main planning policy document to determine planning applications. A recommendation will in due course be made to formally adopt the plan at the March Council meeting.

The report can be accessed via www.iwight.com/living_here/planning/images/IWCSFINALreportinclappendices.pdf .

This will now bring a degree of planning framework certainty for developers and residents alike as to how best to progress planning issues over the next 15 years. The fine details of possible housing development sites (including of course Cowes and Northwood) will now progress to full public consultation and I will keep residents fully informed as to this in due course (possibly as early as next month).

V Dub Festival at the Royal County Showground
This vehicle and music event will now span five days over the first weekend in August. I attended the Licensing hearing to express concerns about noise and nuisance from last year’s four day festival and was pleased that the Committee listened to those concerns and those of local residents to reduce the hours of music and the sale of alcohol without radically affecting the enjoyment of festival-goers. This event brings visitors and their spending power to the Island as well as providing revenue to the Royal I.W. Agricultural Association. The key of course is to ensure that this event does not seriously impact on residents’ enjoyment of their properties.

Best Wishes to all