I hope all of my residents are keeping safe and well, and that many of you have now received your vaccinations. The last 12 months have been an extraordinary challenge in so many ways, but I do now feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
COVID VACCINATIONS
Firstly, I want to recognise the amazing progress the Island has made with the roll out vaccinations. We have delivered a higher percentage of vaccination than our neighbouring authorities, as well as most of the country. That said we all need to stick to the Prime Minister’s guidelines a little longer to achieve the set route map out of Covid, which I am sure we all look forward to.
UPDATE ON LAND BEHIND PREMIER INN/KFC
Disappointingly, despite attempts at meaningful dialogue, the owner has still failed to even start to comply with the enforcement actions. The land levels remain completely different to before the unauthorised works happened, and there still remains buried materials that
need removing.
As an authority our position remains robustly unchanged and enforcement actions will have to move to the next level speedily if non-compliance continues.
ILLEGAL MOTORCYCLE USE OF LAND BEHIND PREMIER INN
It is pleasing to report that the use of this land as a racetrack, creating damage and noise disturbance seems to have stopped following police intervention. However, the police will continue to regularly visit on their routine rounds, however, please do contact me if you see happening again.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS PLANNING ISSUES
The 2nd application for the large bungalow up the footpath by the side of the Premier Inn has again rightfully been refused which I hope will be the end of it. This would have been, in my opinion, a wholly inappropriate development for this location.
The new laundry on Spithead Business Park has applied for increased use for its commercial side, which I support, and its good to see a new local business thriving.
Finally, on planning, a revised scheme for new houses has been submitted for the strip of land along Whitecross Lane, just past Aldi.
FOOTBRIDGE WORKS
The new railway bridge at Alresford Road is now completed ahead of time which is good. The Skew Bridge repairs have been started off site, but Island Roads are being held up waiting for the railway authorities to allow a crane to access the railway line for the frame to be taken away for around two weeks, repaired and then reassembly of everything to to take place.
COPSE MEAD
Copse Mead has been run for many years by Wight Nature under a lease agreement, but the trustees recently handed back the lease to the IW Council. I am pleased to report that negotiations are well underway for Gift2Nature to take this on, so the future of the Mead looks good.
SCHOOLS
I am delighted that all Island Schools are now fully open again, and staff are working hard to put in place suitable catch up programmes to ensure any gaps in students education is caught up. I cannot praise enough all school staff for the amazing work they have done during the pandemic.
Stay safe everyone.
If you have any concerns please contact me on paul.brading@iow.gov.uk, or call me on 07719174690
