News and views

On 14 February, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council set its budget for the coming year, with a 2.5% increase in the amount raised from council tax payers. Among the items agreed is £10,000 towards play equipment for Parkhurst & Hunnyhill ward. I’m delighted with this, having made the case for this at the January meeting of the council. Of course, this money won’t go far but it’s a great start. I’ll be working with residents and others to bid for funding from other organisations. The most likely location for the equipment will be at the bottom end of Hookes Way to start replacing the equipment that had to be removed. As the land is owned by Sovereign Housing Association, I’ve…

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Isle of Wight Council have published budget proposals for 2022/23 (see item 6b). Cabinet will be considering them next (10 February 2022). I’ve urged the Cabinet to reconsider some proposals in particular: increases in fees and charges for Wightcare that I’ve calculated is an inflation-busting 13% a cut in call centre staff, which risks call waiting times increasing I’ve also asked for more information about a proposal to bring in a charge for video streaming of funeral services. I’m not comfortable with the idea and think it would should be reconsidered. Although I have these concerns, this is a better budget package than we’ve seen in recent years with horrendous cuts under the previous Conservative administration (forced on them in…

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I’m grateful to Island Roads for acting quickly to clear the broken glass from the subway at the top of Hunnyhill. I had taken a walk down to the riverside when I spotted this and reported this (and the litter) to Island Roads. When I returned about an hour later it had all been cleared.

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At last night’s Full Council meeting (19 January 2022), Isle of Wight Council accepted a proposal from me to reverse cuts to a scheme that helps low-income households – the Local Council Tax Support scheme. The scheme helps low-earning people by paying a proportion of their council tax. The previous Conservative-run council had cut this support to just 65% over their time in office. I’d opposed all those changes. Having accepted an amendment when debating this year’s scheme, the council is now on course to restoring the level of support to at least 70% by 1 April 2023. Unfortunately, as the council must consult on any changes this is the earliest that extra help will be available. In the meantime,…

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Isle of Wight Council’s draft planning strategy has just gone out to public consultation (30 July 2021). Over 1,400 new homes are proposed for Parkhurst and Hunnyhill ward. Among the documents on the consultation web page are: the whole draft Island Planning Strategy – the various sections are also available from individual links an interactive Policies Map which means different categories can be overlaid with each other a booklet of detailed maps of Housing Allocations The figure for new homes for the whole Isle of Wight is 7,290 new homes through to 2038. About one-fifth of those would be in Parkhurst and Hunnyhill ward. The locations and figures from the strategy for Parkhurst and Hunnyhill are: Location Indicative yield Former…

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This morning (Friday, 18 June 2021), I met with residents and Island Roads’ safety officer to discuss risks to pedestrians crossing at Stag Lane/Horsebridge lights from a tiny minority of drivers who pass through red lights. A couple of tweaks are to be implemented, changing the timing of the lights, and using different light housings that should make it clearer to drivers of lights that are red. We also discussed the problems of dangerous driving on Stag Lane. If you see this happening, please make a note of any details you can eg make and model of car, some or all of the number plate. Then inform the police or let me know I can pass on the information.

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