The following are live notes being taken at the East Cowes Town Council (ECTC) public meeting. They’re not complete, but an approximation.
Waitrose have told Morris Barton that if they’d have known about floating bridge, etc, they would have thought twice about coming
Delay to Red Jet users. “Find people leaving the Island over it”
“We totally oppose these cuts”
Comparisons between Yarmouth + Cowes crossing – why should we pay, but Yarmouth doesn’t?
Audience member saying that they feel like they’ll be paying twice for the same service
1964 Libraries Act states that County council has to provide Libraries services
Are our councillors just towing the line for Cllr Pugh?
We’re going to end up with a load of teenagers with nothing to do, being bored. Storing up trouble.
Why has the party in charge at county hall reduced the council’s reserves so much over their reign?
Cllr Giles: We still have £25m reserves.
Audience: If you’ve got the reserves – Use them!
Morris Barton: If you want to make savings, I suggest that you pay your Tresuarer away.
It’s really important that we retain paid library staff. Lots of applause and cheering
It shows that if they think that volunteers can give the same service
Big support for keeping the library service open as it is.
Eco Island – Enhance local area. Two priorities – Not adhering to their own policies
Has an Equality impact survey been carried out for closure of toilets and libraries. Cllr Giles: It’s at consultation, so we don’t need it.
New development on the edge of the town. Far from closing the libraries, we need a bigger one! Lots of applause.
Cllr Giles is getting it in the neck from the audience at East Cowes
“If you give the council a fall back position, they will take it”
Are these cuts coming as far away from the next local elections as possible?
Not enough use made of the library.
Usage figures being read out. Audience saying – that’s a lot!
It’s not just books!
We can’t afford to lose the library. It’s the core of the community
Setting up an alternative is planning to fail.
Floating bridge
Cllr Giles: Removed in 1992 because it slowed down usage. 750k journeys a year.
From the “Ivory towers of County Hall” it looks like a very tempting way to raise money.
Officers raised it last year, I got it squashed last year.
While I cannot promise anything today, know that we are working hard behind the scenes.
Privatisation of floating bridge is raised by an audience member.
Cllr Giles: I cannot comment on what might or might not happen in 2-3 years time.
Will you scrap the disability card discount?
Cllr Giles. Only concessions will be allowed.
Shouts of “Cowes is our catchment area!”
Bridge is part of the road network.
Road strategy for IWC appears to be non-existent
IWC councillors need to go an fight back with the Government.
Need a growth strategy for job.
50p is way too much money for people.
Your income projections are wrong.
The IWC are forcing the Capital costs on to us. We pay for roads to be repaired all over the Island.
Unanimous vote for oppose the Floating Bridge
There are yachts using the Medina River. It shouldn’t just be the pedestrians that are paying.
ECTC: We are opposed as well
IWC are estimating that it will cost £160k a year to pay staff to collect the Floating Bridge 50p
“Only winner of this will be Southern Vectis.”
If only half of East Cowes over-65s take the (free) bus instead of paying 50p for floating bridge, £470k paid by IWC to Southern Vectis
Goes against Change 4 Life initiative.
Cllr Giles: We were going to pay for Floating Bridge via PFI, but Gov refused.
Discussion of toilets just starting, but we’ve got to leave now.
