Report from I.W. Councillor Roger Mazillius

Posted by Admin on 24 May 2012, 4:23 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 – JUNE 2012

Proposed Asphalt Plant – Medina Wharf, Arctic Road, Cowes

This major development application is being considered by Northwood Parish Council’s Planning Committee on 16th May at approximately 8.15pm immediately after the Annual Town Meeting. The venue as usual will be Northwood Primary School hall.
Cowes Town Council decided at their recent Planning Committee meeting to defer making views known until they had received a presentation from the applicants. This is being arranged as soon as possible with the venue expected to be St. Mary’s Church Hall, Cowes. We will publicise this as widely as possible. I will report back on that meeting next month. Concerned residents can telephone or email me for further details upon reading this note.
The site area is actually within the Parish of Northwood hence our particular interest in this major application. We are well aware of the concerns of residents on both sides of the river with those in Medham being particularly concerned.
There are many areas of concern arising from the application centering around 24 hour operation, noise and transport movement levels, light pollution, asphalt particulates and dust. Whilst these issues are either broadly or in detail addressed in the planning application and supporting documents, local residents are much concerned about the impact of such matters.
Needless to say, as local member I have already indicated that I would not want this matter to be decided under the delegated planning procedure and I know that Officers fully appreciate the need for such a major application to be decided by the Planning Committee with the usual comprehensive public speaking including that from Town and Parish Council representatives.
Comments need to be submitted to the I.W. Council by 18th May, although being a major application I have no doubt that late comments will still be “in time” to be considered in the subsequent report. Indeed, I do not expect the application to be ready for determination until probably late July/August. In the meantime I am receiving, as I know are my Parish and Cowes Town colleagues, many representations by residents in Cowes and Northwood who are concerned about the impact the proposals may have on their homes and nearby environment.
I would of course be pleased to discuss any aspect of this application with any resident who cares to contact me via my usual details. I will report fully on the Parish meeting in my next Northwood News report.

Highway Resurfacing

Residents will doubtless have noticed the recent re-surfacing of many Island main roads including our local Newport and Cowes A3020. One or two residents have queried the need for this in view of the Highways P.F.I programme due to commence next April. I am advised that surface dressing of roads is one of the most cost-effective treatments. This seals the surface preventing water ingress whilst restoring skidding resistance to the road surface. As road surfaces, particularly this very busy road, wear from such heavy use, it is important to surface dress as necessary rather than e.g. wait for a year or longer for other schemes to be implemented. Of course the costs for this are built into our annual highways maintenance programme.
I expect to be able to report in the next Northwood News on the final choice of contractor for the 25 year P.F.I. scheme. This scheme will offer a wide variety of skilled and less skilled employment over the 25 years of the contract. The College will be offering specific skills courses to match certain contract requirements. This should be of particular interest to school leavers and those looking for employment which of course in many cases will require an “outdoor – all weathers” attitude! The reward should be apart from very good rates of pay, a 25 year career in an important industry with further prospects.

Love Lane Primary School Site

The I.W. Council has issued a consultation paper proposing to move the Pupil Referral/Behaviour Unit from Carisbrooke to Love Lane and a public meeting outlining the proposals has been arranged at the school (now Lanesend Primary) for Wednesday 16th May at 7.30 pm.
I know issues have been raised about the proposal and there are undoubtedly local concerns which will need to be fully addressed (as I would expect them to be) by the consultation process, an important part of which will be the local public meeting.

Diamond Jubilee Concert—Friday 1st August—The Event Centre

Tickets are now available for this musical feast of entertainment organised by Cowes Town Council and featuring the best of young (and in a few cases older) Island musical talent featuring the Isle of Wight Youth Orchestra and the combined Isle of Wight Youth Wind Band and Concert Band plus featured soloist musicians and singers. The first half finale will feature excerpts from Cowes Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society’s latest production of the musical “Godspell” and the second half finale will replicate the much loved “Last Night of the Proms” finale of Sea Shanties, Pomp and Circumstance, Land of Hope and Glory, Jerusalem etc. There will also be some programme surprises! Union jacks will be available!
Cowes Town Council can be contacted via email at roger.hendey@btconnect.com; telephone (not 24 hours) 01983 209022. I can also supply tickets at rogmaz@yahoo.co.uk or telephone 01983 295556.
TICKETS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR.

Prices are Adults £10 and children and those in education £5.

Community Bus Service

I understand around 1150 passengers were carried on Route 32 during April and that approx. £430 in donations and fares was collected. The passenger numbers equalled an average of 30 per day of use. Our thanks go again to the volunteer bus drivers who make this service possible. I confirm the I.W. Council has again provided funds for a further year of operation up to the end of March 2013.

Contact Me

As usual I am available to residents to discuss any concerns, answer questions etc by telephone, letter or email. I am also pleased to meet residents by appointment either at home or County Hall where incidentally our new Customer Service Centre is incorporated into the main entrance opposite the Police Station.

Best wishes