Met with Norman Baker the Under-Secretary of State for Transport

Today I met with Norman Baker the Under-Secretary of State for Transport who visited the Island to officially open the Freshwater Yarmouth Transport (FYT) community bus scheme.  Although the FYT community bus scheme is partially funded by the IW Council it is different from the other schemes operated by the Isle of Wight Community Bus Partnership (IWCBP).  Mr Baker was met by the FYT bus at Yarmouth and transported to Freshwater where he took part in the handover of a cheque for Community Bus funding.

I explained to the Minister about the IWCBP schemes and how they served residents who would otherwise be isolated in their homes and communities.  I told him how important government funding was to the survival of these voluntary schemes.  I'm pleased to say that he told me that £49,000 had been granted to the IW Council to support these schemes.  The picture shows our MP, Andrew Turner, Norman Baker and me!

Had an enjoyable session on Vectis Radio today

Ian Mac asked me to come along for a session on Vectis Radio today.  We got talking about a number of subjects with callers.  The PFI, the Budget, moving the Fire Control Centre, the Canoe Lake area of Sandown, waste collections and how poor we, council, are at communicating with Island residents and the Islands media.  I'm sorry to say that on the communications issue we could do a lot better.  I must admit I did enjoy the session and hope that I get invited back at some time.

Plans discussed to enable more Community Buses

At the end of this financial year at the end of March the current No22 serving Shanklin and the No23 serving the New Church area are scheduled to operated as Community Buses.  I know that both routes can be altered so they serve their residents in a better fashion than they do now.  What we do need to do is to find more volunteer drivers.  We currently operate four routes with about 23 drivers; if we have to man two additional routes then we will need between 10 to 12 new drivers.  So, please spread the word amongst your friends and get them to contact me ASAP.

Christmas & New Year Waste Arrangements - Bottle Banks!

Yesterday night I noticed that the bottle bank close to me in Station Avenue Car Park was seriously overflowing.  I suppose it is reasonable to expect a greater volume of bottles etc to be thrown away at Christmas time. Around 100 wine bottles were stood around the skips, plus boxes and carrier bags also full with bottles. I thought it would only be a matter of time before the bottles were knocked over, broken and scattered; the last thing you want in a car park.  No problem I thought, I'll just phone the IW Council Call Centre and ask them to get the skips emptied and bottles collected, Wrong!! I just got a recorded message saying that the Call Centre was closed until 3rd Jan.  However, if it was an emergency I should call the 'Out of hours' number for Wightcare. 

Although this was not a real emergency I thought it had the potential to get out of hand.  So, rang the 'out of hours' number and explained the situation.  Answer - there are no waste collection services until 3rd Jan!  I stated that this problem could not wait until next week; the operator said he would see what he could do.

I was not encouraged by the response so thought I'd ring a contact within Island Waste to see if they could help.  My contact was not at work but I explained the problem again to a lady and she said she would speak to the supervisor and get it sorted.  I am pleased to report that within a couple of hours the whole lot had been cleared away -  So well done and thank you Island Waste.  I will be raising this issue within the IW Council and asking for this new policy of not rescheduling waste collections in the week after bank holidays be reconsidered to take into account factors like bottle banks.

Council money unfair to poor areas??

Yet again our local Lib Dem 'spokesman' whinges that its all so unfair!  The IW Councils recently announced Economic Improvement Fund offers Town and Parish councils sums of money that they can used for the economic benefit of their areas, provided that they can match fund the amount offered. 

So what do the Lib Dems do?  Complain that some areas are being favoured over others because the amount offered is based upon Band D properties instead of the people on the electoral role.  Band D is used because it is regarded as the most accurate measure of how many people actually live in a given area.  A recent government paper reported that electoral roles could be as low as 73% accurate, so take your pick which method you use.  Whichever it is, somebody will loose out!

However, did the Lib Dems ever offer town and parish councils anything similar?  No!  Talk about sour grapes and looking a gift horse in the mouth.  That's Lib Dems all over, just moan, whine, whinge and critize, but do nothing themselves, just like their leader Nick Clegg!   Fortunately, the Island people have realised that they are just a busted flush and ignore the few of them that are left.  Perhaps they should join their pals who have deserted the Lib Dems and run off to the Green Party.

High Speed Broadband needs to come to the Bay Area ASAP

The news that parts of the Island are to get High Speed Broadband  is extremely good news and a major factor in the promotion of the Island's economy.  However, I was very disappointed to read that it would be confined to the Cowes, Newport, Ryde triangle.
These areas already have the best access and communication coverage.  In Sandown access to 3G mobile phone extremely limited (perhaps the wind blows in the wrong direction) and some areas barely have 2G coverage and internet speeds are slow.
As the Bay is one of the principal tourism areas of the Island, with many small businesses dependent upon mainland tourists, it would certainly benefit our business community to be able to communicate more efficiently with their customers. Access to HSB will also encourage new on-line businesses, negating the need to cross the Solent.
The announcement that the IW Council is planning a £15m investment package to bring HSB to the whole Island is fantastic news.  Can I plead on behalf of the Bay area that we are given priority when the installation programme is planned; even if it means re-scheduling the PFI programme which I believe can be done easily now.  The sooner the plans are laid the better.

Sandown to get nearly £12000 in match funding

IW Council is to allocate nearly £12,000 to Sandown in its next budget help to support projects that would boost Sandown's economy. The IW Council is offering £250,000 in match funding to Island town's to help their economy.   It will need residents to come up with ideas on how best to use this money. So if you have a brain wave, do let me know.

The Claremont Hotel HMO is shut down at last

The HMO that caused the most blight to Sandown has finally been shut down by the IW Council Enforcement Officers.  This is the action was ordered by the Planning Inspectorate back in June this year.  The residents of this HMO has been blighting the lives of nearby residents for years.  The enforcement officer said she had visited the premises and checked that it had been emptied.  There is only one occupant now who is the manager.  The manager is only there to facilitate the sale of the HMO as a hotel.  I have asked the neighbours to let me know if anybody moves back into 'Hotel'.  If they do the owner is liable to be prosecuted.  Lets keep our fingers crossed and hope that Sandown stays free from any more of these HMO establishments.

Spend Money on Public Transport and Broadband NOT Useless Windfarms

I am far from convinced that mankind can do anything about climate change but I do know that we are all angry about our taxes, petrol and power bills being hiked to pay for useless wind farms etc that will make no difference to carbon emissions.  If they want people to use their cars less, why not spend more on public transport?  Bus and Train fares are very very high and with the cuts in routes and schedules many families are isolated so have no option but to use their cars.  Also, what is the point of High Speed trains between London and Birmingham that nobody wants?  Surely, we should be trying to eliminate the need to make the journey?  Why not invest that money in High Speed Broadband throughout the country so business people can do business without travelling by train or air.  Reduce commuting to and from work by encouraging people to work from home several days per week?  All these options would be good for people, surely our politicians can see that??

The Public are asked their opinion about the IW Council Budget for 2012

I attended a public consultation event in County Hall tonight.  Firstly the CEO and one of the Directors gave a good briefing about the situation regarding the reduction in government funding, what savings had already been made and what the budget gap was for 2012 - 2013.  Groups were then asked to  comment upon the council's priorities and perhaps suggest alternatives for budget expenditure.

I went around some of the groups and listened their discussions.  Some residents seemed to have failed to grasp the purposes of the consultation.  One group of young boys wanted more skate parks including an indoor one! When I asked them what services should be cut to release the funding for these they looked at me blankly.  On the other hand another group of young people suggested employers allowing them to do voluntary work so they could get some work experience.  What a good idea, I will look into setting up a scheme to put young people in touch with employers.

Unfortunately, there were also the those whose aim is to berate the IW Council.  Some reading prepared scripts repeating the misinformation they regularly spread.  I was able to enlighten two men who believed the PFI funding was a loan.  They were astounded when I told them that the PFI was a grant, not a loan!

Scandalous Scaremongering by the Royal College of Nursing

I have to condem the scaremongering by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) when it says that 50,000 NHS jobs are at risk because of the financial position of the NHS.  So what is the financial position?  No cuts at all in its funding and a pledge to maintain the current level in line with inflation - so what's the problem?  Would it be that the NHS is out of control, very poorly managed, delivering a second class service and nurses being condemned for being more interested in their careers than caring for the sick.

I wrote to Andrew Turner MP to get the truth about the financial position of the NHS and the reply I got from the government was that they have tasked the NHS management to move £20billion from the back office administration and to move it into frontline clinical care.  Everybody would support that wouldn't they?  Everybody that is apart from the Unions; make no mistake, the RCN is like any other a Union. 

Perhaps the truth is that the hugely inefficient management of the NHS is incapable of culling the army of administrators and make-work jobs that make the NHS  a moribund colossus incapable of delivering a first rate medical service - for which the British public are paying through the nose.  Shame on the RCN for spreading lies!

My 1st day driving Sandown's Community Bus

Today is a day I have been looking forward to for some time and after three weeks of driver training on a 40 ft coach and the PCV test.  Well, my day started at 8.30 in Newport meeting up with other volunteers who had come to collect the buses we were to take over from the school bus drivers.  I took mine over at about 9am and headed for Sandown, arriving in Yaverland in time to start the day.  Into the High St, up Beachfield Road, Broadway, Perowne Way, Lake High St and finally Morrisons; then all the way back again.  This I did four times and met several friends who got on the bus; I met residents who I'd not met before and will surely get to know in the months to come.  I am really looking forward to my next stint at the wheel on Monday.

A Brilliant Evening in Support of Help for Hero's and Royal British Legion

Trish and I attended a lovely concert on Friday evening at St John's church in Sandown.  The event was in aid of Help for Hero's and The Royal British Legion. 

We were entertained by the Newchurch Male Voice Choir, The Five O'Clock Shadows (who played melodies from my youth) and a lady soloist whose name escapes me.  The whole evening was delightful as the entertainers were first class.

The evening raised nearly £900 so it was very worth while.  My congratulations to Jean Orman and the other ladies of the Towns Women's Guild.  Well done you all, it was a great success.

 

Lib Dems love the EU - If you don't you are stupid or racist!

I had a discussion with a prominent Island Lib Dem on Monday and he was saying that he might campaign for UKIP in the West Wight By-Election to undermine the Conservatives after the fiasco of the Lib Dem campaign.  I said that I would only be voting for EU sceptical Conservative MEPs at the next EU election.  He then declared that the Conservative MEP, Daniel Hannan was nothing but a racist who would be better off in the BNP!!  Certainly an extreme response I thought; however it is a reflection of how the Lib Dems view those who question the dictatorial EU, you are either racist or stupid.  Just consider the arrogance of Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader who refuses point blank to support anything that lessens the total control of the EU over the UK.

Another Success For The Southern Vectis Training Team

L to R - Glen Crawford, Tim Parry (examiner),
Me and Trevor Williams)

Against all the odds the Southern Vectis Training Team have got me through the Passenger Carrying Vehicle (PCV) test.  I am so grateful for their patience, skill and courage as they guided and watched over me while I was learning to pilot a 40ft coach around our small Island roads.  Having now been through the process I have a tremendous respect for coach and bus drivers, they make an extremely difficult task look easy - I can assure you it isn't.  These drivers are nothing less than the airline pilots of the road.  My personal thanks to Geoff Russell,  Steve Hyde,  Glen Crawford and Trevor Williams who all helped get me my licence.  I can now take my place amongst the other volunteers who drive our community buses.  I am really looking forward to driving residents of Sandown who use the No 24 Community Bus.