Northwood Parish Council and Northwood Community Partnership

FUTURE MEETINGS

All meetings are held in Northwood School Hall, where the public and press are welcome to attend. Please enter Northwood School via the playground to the south, where parking is available. Prior to each meeting there is an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Northwood Parish Council, Tuesday 7th October at 7.00pm.
(Agenda Items to include Public Consultation on the Parish Council Precept 2009/2010)

Northwood Parish Council, Planning Committee, Tuesday 21st October at 8.00pm.
(To be confirmed- contact Barbara Herbert on 01983 290086 for details)

Northwood Parish Council, Tuesday 4th November at 7.00pm.
(Agenda to include Guest Speaker, Cllr David Pugh CC, Leader of the IW Council)

SUMMARY OF MEETINGS OF NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

POLICE REPORT

PC Mark Thomas reported that although August was busy for the police, crimes had fallen in comparison with the same period last year. It is thought the main reason for this is due to the police being given new powers to combat alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Cowes.

Mark also reported that pedlars had been apprehended for selling ‘goods’ in Medham, contrary to the No Cold Calling initiative. It was later found that the pedlars were also unlicensed.

BAE PROPOSES NEW ERECTION FOR NORTHWOOD SKYLINE

In July the Council met to view a new intriguing planning application submitted by BAE Systems.

The application is for the ‘Installation and erection of a test tower facility for sea trials, and will be equipped with a 17 metre high pole mast’. It is proposed that the facility will be positioned on Test Pad C, which lies facing Three Gates Road. The Parish Council made no objection to the application. Further details of the application can be found on the IW Council’s Website quoting the reference. no: TCP/21760/W, P/01304/08.

PRIORITIES FOR NORTHWOOD PARISH COUNCIL

Six ongoing projects were confirmed for the Parish Council in light of priorities coming forward through the consultation within the Northwood Parish Plan; these were highlighted (in no priority order) as follows:

1. That an Allotments Working Party be established comprising Cllrs Roger Mazillius and Marie Ely, with Cllr Mazillius as the lead councillor, under the following term of reference:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council so that it may respond to the current requests for allotments from parish residents.

2. That a Community Facilities Working Party be established comprising Cllrs Colin Palmerton and Eileen Turner-Palmerton, with Cllr Palmerton as the lead councillor, under the following term of reference:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council so that it may secure, as far as is possible the continuing prosperous availability to the community of its current Post Office and retail facilities.

3. That a Youth Forum Working Party be established comprising Cllrs Paul Fuller and John Pullen, with Cllr Fuller as the lead councillor, under the following term of reference:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council so that it may pursue, with community organisations, schools and other agencies, the creation of a Youth Forum for the community.

4. That a Traffic & Transport Issues Working Party be established comprising Cllrs Paul Fuller and Roger Mazillius, with Cllr Fuller as the lead councillor, under the following term of reference:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council so that it can address, in conjunction with the IW Council and other agencies as necessary, Parish Plan and related traffic and transport issues.

5. That a Village Design Statement Working Party be established comprising Cllrs Peter Brooker and Roger Mazillius, with Cllr Brooker as the lead councillor under the following term of reference:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council enabling the creation of a Village Design Statement.

6. That the term of reference of the existing Housing Needs Working Party be amended as follows:

To make recommendations to the Parish Council enabling it to pursue the potential provision of Affordable Rural Housing in Northwood Parish, working with the RCC and other agencies.

Cllr Colin Cramp is leading this project, with support from Cllrs Marie Ely and Peter Brooker.

ISLAND PLAN CORE STRATEGY – DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL WITHIN NORTHWOOD

In last month’s Northwood News details were given of a new consultation which took place by the Isle of Wight Council prior to work starting on the Island’s new ‘bible’ for developers: the ‘Island Plan’.

Over the past few weeks all Parish Councillors have embellished the opportunity to browse through this document. Within the report there are no firm proposals, with the outlook for development on the Island remaining ‘vague’ at this stage. That said, Northwood is mentioned within the context of some suggestions!!

One suggestion highlighted is that land ‘between Northwood and Cowes’ has been outlined as one of the possible broad locations suggested for contingency housing, should it be required. The report also suggests that ‘….there is an opportunity to make better use of land for residential and employment mixture between Cowes and Northwood’. Under the Employment section there is another suggestion that land to the ‘north of Newport and Stag Lane’ could be utilised for employment workspace.

Elsewhere suggestions have also been made that the ‘strategic mineral reserve’ at Crockers Farm (opposite the County Show Ground) is safeguarded.

There is also a suggestion for a Medina Crossing … The document is available on the http://iow-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/planning website. The deadline for comments closed on 22nd September.

ALLOTMENT UPDATE (Cllr Roger Mazillius CC Tel: 01983 295556)

Demand for allotments is growing; at the moment we advise residents who might want to work a local allotment to register their interest in writing now with Parish Clerk Barbara Herbert at 11 Wyatts Lane. We expect to report further on the provision of village allotments in next month's Northwood News.

ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCILLOR REPORT
(Cllr Roger Mazillius CC Telephone 01983 295556; Email: roger.mazillius@iow.gov.uk)

1. Proposed Vodaphone Mast at the edge of Nodes Farm Field/Phillips Fine Food Tree Line. Vodaphone are applying to erect an approximately 42' (13 metres) high transmission mast camouflaged to stand more unobtrusively next to these trees. Residents, particularly at that end of Nodes Road and Newport Road are most welcome to call on me by prior arrangement to view the plans and to have a chat about the proposals. Northwood Parish Council has been asked for pre-application views and we have asked for more details of the life of the installation and how long the trees will continue to hide most of the visual aspect of the mast. A formal planning application will be made shortly when local residents will be able to make their own views known in the usual way.

2. Northwood Village Produce Association annual show was a great success and much credit must go to the Committee headed by Chairman and Show Secretary Ron Willis and of course all exhibitors who put on such a marvellous display of flowers, vegetables, cookery and handicraft exhibits. The Association meets at the W.I. Hall on the second Friday in each month at 7.30pm. New members are always made very welcome.

Congratulations to Pam and Derek Toms of 83 Wyatts Lane who put Northwood on the map by winning the "Wight in Bloom" Best Island Front Garden competition as well as joint first with Ron Willis for our own "Northwood in Bloom" competition. A real tribute to Northwood's gardens!

3. New Wightbus Service

I have a supply of new timetables for this service which I can deliver if required; timetables are also available on the bus. A copy is also displayed at Northwood Stores. Wightbus will fix new timetables to the bus stops as soon as possible; in some cases they are waiting for Southern Vectis to remove their own timetable fitment to make room for the new fitments at an appropriate height. I will be interested in any comments residents have about the new service.

(Printable Timetables link added by Alan Welfoot: Timetables for Routes 30 and 32 )

FRIENDS OF NORTHWOOD CEMETERY UPDATE (Paul Fuller Tel: 01983 289595)

Since its inception 6 months ago, the Friends of Northwood Cemetery has gone from strength to strength. Membership has now grown to 144, with the wonderfully informative website (see www.friendsofnorthwoodcemetery.org.uk) currently reporting over 1000 hits each month. The site was set up by webmaster Tim Gladdis and Gwynn White, an Island-based Web designer, who have voluntarily given their time.

Lead projects include restoring the mortuary building, which is currently in need of repair, and conversion of the store (on the Newport Road edge of the cemetery), into a Visitor Centre, which will be equipped with a toilet and tea/coffee-making facilities. For both these projects the Friends are exploring Grant Funding initiatives that will enable this to happen! Elsewhere the Friends Archivist, Barry Sowerby has so far achieved the mammoth task of transcribing over half of the Burial Records, aiming for completion by Christmas.

On Saturday 4th October the Friends of Northwood Cemetery, and Friends of Northwood Church are holding a joint sponsored walk to raise funds and awareness of both groups. The walk will leave the cemetery at 11am and will include a barbecue at Northwood Church Rectory gardens (see page 18). All residents are welcome to attend!