Apologies for absence received by: Steve Milford, Maureen Cawley.
Public Questions:
MCH raised the disability question of behalf of some VB Forum readers:
He handed it over in the form of a letter, to be read by the Town Clerk (John Farrant)
Can the Town Council please write to the Isle of Wight Council to ask for both their policy and plans to make Winter Gardens accessible for disabled people on the first floor, so members of the public who are disabled are included in Town Council meetings?
It was agreed to write to the IOW Council to get this answered.
Dennis Russell read a statement addressing major concerns over the revised bid by Cheetah Marine. This has been covered on the Blog already this last week.
Buster Bartlett then raised an unexpected, out of agenda sequence, and lengthy concern about the esplanade traffic experiment. He was reminded what it was all about by Susan Scoccia.
Town centre managers:
The Senior Manager with the Ventnor Town Manager, Bob Reed made a joke about their reception at Ryde. They were warmly welcomed by the Town Council with Val Taylor making a strong proposal of support.
Bob has been on the Island for 44 years, and lives in the Bay area. Background in Royal Navy, Royal Mail and the UKSA (United Kingdom Sailing Academy)
They were keen to be included on the Town Council Agenda as a fixed item.
The most obvious area of their work will be in environmental enforcement and getting the public realm working properly, and that IW contracts are maintained.
Rob will have a uniform shortly – (not too police like but with a distinctive yellow tie)
He hopes Ventnor will become the most popular town on the Island.
Val Taylor brought up the question of cigarette butts on the pavements.
Rob commented that this accounted for a 30% increase in street litter nationally. It has been already picked up in a thread:
He said he has various powers to use against businesses, such as Street control notices. Val said it’s not just pubs, look at Somerfields staff smoking outside under the arch and by the ATM.
St Lawrence & Bonchurch isn’t covered by the Town Manager. He’s on foot around town currently. Contactable on a mobile phone and also has an email address.
Buster Bartlett’s comment – I see them as a duplicate of the town council, nothing more.
Examples of actions taken already:
Graffiti removed from the toilets and dog bins fixed within two days
A record of what has been reported and the actions taken will be kept.
The question was raised of what chances are there of the boundary being expanded outside the town centre. Rob said has already added more ‘turf’. To the east, Londis and the car park near Tulse Hill.
Blue flag award:
Susan Scoccia had a meeting with Matthew Chatfield, Tricia Stillman of Parks and Beaches, responsible for the Blue Flag application (it is driven by the IOW Council)
SS – “MCH has done great work on this already (through work on the lifeguard service). We have done a lot, but it’s a lot more than I realised,”
A committee has to be setup – two meetings a year – someone needed to champion it. Brenda volunteered as she’s used to the Blue Flag process
A re-cycling point is required – 3 items – glass, cans and textiles(!). Where would they go?
Robbie Mew – By the new toilets?
Val Taylor – one of the other areas used ones that look like ‘normal’ street rubbish bins. Could go on the side of the bandstand?
Brenda Lawson – A carpenter might volunteer to construct a box like a carved ship around the bins (aka Blackgang?) They’ve got to be attractive. We could even make a feature of them.
Val Taylor – it’s got to be easily seen to maintain the Blue Flag.
The eastern esplanade was agreed to be the preferred location.
Christmas Fun Day:
Brenda Lawson – Fun day – 8th Dec
Will the council pay for the installation of light strings to attach to the lampposts – and pay the electricity bill?
Looking to stringing them along the street, not across.
Estimated £75 per lamp post for the conversion needed.
Val Taylor – SEB will charge for fitting – £250 per lamp post. Far too expensive, I would vote against it.
Refused on vote
Provision of allotments:
Robbie Mew – List of people who were interested – 23 names on the list + 12 more since the Chronicle published.
Suggestion that the property developers could be made to give financial support for other parts of the town, like the allotments.
Finding land has been a difficulty. Ventnor Middle has been approached as a possible site. Northern end of it would be preferable. Ties in well for green issues for the students. The policy about changing the education structure has impacted on any further work on this for the while.
Hoped for end of October or November for education decision
Robbie Mew has approached the National Trust about the use of the field at the back on the old downside. Only being used to graze a few cows currently. Otherwise land has been very hard to get hold of.
Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond – land behind Boniface school a possible – it’s National Trust. What about the land next to the tennis courts – planning permission has been turned down again. Perhaps the owner will give up now?
Questions:
Buster Bartlett – When the Winter Gardens are used we need to make a check that organisations can pay and pay in advance.
He specifically referenced the failure of the Jazz Festival organisers to pay the artists.
We don’t want the name of Ventnor to be besmirched. People will say that if you play Ventnor, you might not get paid.
Val Taylor – It’s nothing to do with this council – it’s a private company matter.
It was stated that the organisation would not gain free access to the Winter Gardens again.
Robbie Mew – To the Mayor, congratulations at your performance at the last planning meeting (Millbay). You reflected the views of the most of the people of this town. Thank you.
Planning:
TCP/14875/M – P/02179/07
source: http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=15821
Adjacent to east side of pumping station Esplanade Ventnor Isle Of Wight PO38
Variation of condition 14 on TCP/14875/L which states that the development shall not commence on site until a planning obligation pursuant to S.106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 has been made and lodged with the Local Planning Authority and variation of condition 15 on TCP/14875/L which states that the buildings hereby permitted shall not be commenced until an access roadway footway and means of separating vehicles and pedestrians has been realigned to the south of the proposed building and such realignment shall make provision for continued vehicular access to the fish processing building with full details submitted and agreed with the Local Planning Authority
Comment: Please see background warning on the Forum from CPRE
Councillor: Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond
Val Taylor – Propose rejection. Other people have had to put in proper roads, why shouldn’t they?
Brenda Lawson- These conditions are not put down on a whim. Carefully considered, so shouldn’t be removed.
Brian Lucas – The funder behind scene has found the conditions too restrictive in the future. Long term value of the site is the question mark. It’s not the applicant saying this; they want it to work as a business.
Disappointed that the IW council hasn’t negotiated the terms earlier.
The applicant is desperate to get started building.
JFB – Marine use restriction is OK.
The Harbour master office can’t be done. What if Cheetah Marine doesn’t win the tender for the harbour master? They’ll have to have the office used by other people. It’s not fair.
Val Taylor – Part of the reasons to get the money – was that there would provide facilities including a harbour master office. It’s nothing not known by them when they went into it.
They should have considered the harbour master’s office location when they had the building designed. It’s been through enough planning applications, so it’s mad not to have considered it.
Brian Lucas – It’s not unsolvable with solicitors
Robbie Mew – it would mean driving down the now footpath to get to the car park
Brenda Lawson – Part of the attractive price that they got for the land was that it came with restrictions.
JFB – abstain – “I don’t know enough about it”
Brian Lucas – I put forward a proposal that there should be discussions about the terms.
Idea rejected.
All rejected except Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond who abstained.
TCP/15329/F – P/02081/07
source: http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=15738
Skelmorlie Spring Gardens Ventnor Isle of Wight PO38
Removal of condition no. 3 on TCP/15329/D which states that the external amenity area associated with the property shall be made available for use by all the occupants of the flats
Councillor: Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond
Last month application was refused.
Refusal on basis that conditions are there for a reason.
TCP/23613/B – P/02103/07
source:
http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=15739
46 High Street Ventnor Isle of Wight PO381LT
Conversion of shop and flats into restaurant/bar on ground floor with 2 flats to lower ground and 1st floors to include 2 storey rear extension roof terrace (revised scheme)
Comment: Graham Perks’ proposal to convert his premises on the High Street.
Councillor: Jonny Fitzgerald-Bond
Perks wine bar
Revised
See no reason to refuse
It’s what we want to see in our town, shops being improved.
Declare an interest – neither personal nor prejudicial (an internal joke as everyone on the TC uses Perks facilities!)
TCP/13927/K – P/02148/07
source:
http://www.iwight.com/council/departments/planning/appsdip/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=15740
See CPRE reference on Forum before meeting (toward bottom of page)
Watcombe Bottom Sports Centre Whitwell Road Ventnor Isle of Wight PO381LP
8 x 16m high flood light columns
8 x 16m high lamps
Brenda Lawson – would help for youngsters in town, but light pollution would be a problem.
Dark sky policy was adopted a few years ago.
Val Taylor – on balance, I can think that it’s a benefit to the youth of Ventnor.
See no reason to refuse.
Brenda Lawson – raised an issue – internal email about Tesco’s. Totally “resent the attitude from the planning officers.”
Tesco’s is matter of children’s safety re the plan for a pedestrian crossing on loading bay.
Val Taylor – Major problem is that Highways has been merged with Planning. Planning isn’t responding.
“Needs a real good sort out” “peer review report – it hasn’t changed in two years”
They think the town & parish councils are a nuisance. They do not know our towns
We do know planning regulations. “Arrogance has to be dealt with” “They have not learnt”
An example of their arrogance was Kevin Burton coming to the Planning Meeting with a Tesco originated traffic plan, looked at for the first time in the evening of the meeting in question.
If they’re under resourced, get more money in there for them “it’s not acceptable anymore”
“Something has got to be done … and fast” “Developers are getting away with it”
“Enforcement has to be strengthened”
Planning response to the peer review – will be next month! This is an observation of the time it is taking for Planning to react to constructive criticism.
