OnTheWight spoke to owner of the Undercliff Glen caravan park, Gary Smedmore, after his meeting with councillors earlier today, during which he told us, “It’s great that we’ve finally been listened to”.
The meeting – which lasted several hours – saw eight visitors to the area plus two residents, including Gary.
No action was directly promised this afternoon, but Gary presented a list of things that needed to be done on site – many of which had been under discussion since February – and those present said they’d go away and discuss those items on Monday.
Who turned up
Those present were the councillors Ian Stephens; Phil Jordan; Jonathan Bacon and Steve Stubbings, as well as Council officers Dave Burbage, MD of IWC and Bill Murphy, Head of planning.
Andrew Turner also went along, although it’s understood he didn’t contribute anything to the meeting.
Many congratulated Gary for what he’d done. Bill Murphy wasn’t one of those.
Signing a waiver to use the road
There were two central points discussed as a way forward for the residents.
The first was for residents occupying houses in the landlocked area to sign a waiver in order to be able to use their cars on the new road. Gary told OnTheWight some of the residents are open to the idea of that.
However, there was some uncertainty as to whether lorries would be given permission to use the road (returning to the problem of properties not having access to heating oil for the winter).
Unadopting the road
The other option that was discussed was for the council to unadopt the road and residents take on responsibility for it.
Gary told OnTheWight this option would need careful consideration and was not something they could make a quick decision on.
“Going through the motions”
Gary told OnTheWight that Bill Murphy disputed whether a crack that had widened in the road was actually a crack, then telling him, “If you fill it in, you’ll be liable.”
Gary also asked what was planned to ensure the coming rains didn’t just make their way into the cracks that have developed and the exposed ground. His suggestion was to fill in the cracks and cover the exposed land with tarpaulin. Bill Murphy said he didn’t think the tarpaulin would make a difference.
Gary commented,
“It felt to me like he’s just going through the motions.”
Resolving the water supply problems
Another issue that had been outstanding for a long period of time was the water supply.
All through the very hot weather of the summer, water being delivered to the properties through an overground pipe had been reaching temperatures of 27 degrees celsius.
Gary said he’d brought up having the pipe placed underground with council officers, but they had blocked it happening, despite Southern Water being OK with it. The councillors present appeared to be supportive of this taking place, before the pipes are exposed to freezing weather, threatening cracking.
What happens next?
Gary told OnTheWight,
“They said they’re going to take all of the points away and are going to work through it.”
Councillors advised that a meeting to discuss all options would take place on Monday morning.
When OnTheWight asked him if this was just more talk from the council, Gary replied,
“We won’t know until tomorrow.”
