Welcome to edition 99 of our Clerk’s Column circulated as usual to the 490 residents on our Residents’ Forum email list and through the Chronicle’s page 4.
BEACH SAFETY STAFF APPOINTED
The interviews for the two new posts of Beach Safety Workers resulted in an appointment to both. Ventnor residents Bethany Whitehead and Lloyd Wheatley will join our Maintenance Manager Brian Roberts as the team that will restore our First Aid and Advice Service based in the Lifeguard Hut from 1 June to 30 September this year, operational 11am to 6pm.
PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
The Group’s meeting on Tuesday had eight applications on its Agenda. It recorded its assessment of ‘no reason to oppose’ for the two in respect of Nirvana, Steephill Court Road and supported four: 69 Leeson Road, Westfield Lodges and Apartments in Shore Road, Friston, Bonchurch Shute and 5 Inglewood Park, St Lawrence.
It opposed an application for a single storey extension to 15 Undercliff Gardens ‘based on the limitation of front access and reduction in parking.’ The Group’s strongest opposition applied to the addition of a balcony to Esplanade Road’s Sea Gem which it judged ‘The property is located in a Conservation Area; the glazing on the sides of the balcony is not obscure and the structure overlooks many neighbouring properties, providing lack of privacy to residents.’
EAST OR WEST FOR VENTNOR?
The current Boundary Commission’s proposal is for Ventnor to be in the West constituency when the Island moves to two MPs, but the Commission is now running a second consultation until 4 April and anyone can join in. The information pack is available here.
THE ROOF IS GOING ON!
Just two months into the six month contract to build the new, disability friendly, Public Toilet in the Central Car Park our contractor has reached the roof. There’s still of course much to do but the project is well on schedule for its early June completion. Our thanks also to local Architect Andrew Hitt for certifying the works to date as the basis for monthly payments..
VENTNOR’S FEBRUARY WEATHER
Chris Watts, who collects the daily readings for us from our Weather Station, delivered his usual report on conditions during the previous month on Monday. He added ‘Although there were three named storms within the space of one week, only Eunice (18th) gave cause for concern with gale force winds, but surprisingly little rainfall.
MARCH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Tonight’s Town Council meeting’s Agenda includes Ventnor Youth Club, Beach Safety, the Isle of Wight Association of Local Councils, Glyphosate Use, Planning Committee Appointment, the new Web Site, the Time and Tide Bell project and the Boundary Commission for England’s second consultation. It will be livestreamed and can be viewed either during or after the meeting here
VIA MY TWITTER FEED LAST WEEK
- Civil Service World reports ‘As of December, almost 7 billion items of personal protective equipment bought for frontline services had been marked “do not supply” to the NHS by the Department of Health and Social Care.’
- Homelessness Charity Crisis today ‘warns that 69% of low-income private renters in England will be forced to go without food and heating at least one day per week to meet rising housing and living cost.’
MORE INFORMATION: is available from the Town Council’s website and @ventnor clerk