Dear Residents of Fairlee & Whippingham
I have proudly represented your area over the last 5 years as you Isle of Wight Councillor and have been a Councillor since 2013 first as the Ward Councillor for Newport North Inc Whippingham South and then for Fairlee & Whppingham after the Boundary changes of 2021.
It has been a tremendous privilege to be your Councillor and I would love to continue to represent you. In my time as a Councillor I have done my upmost to do the best I can. I have only ever lived in Newport and still do with my long term partner and my two daughters. I work in our family business, I am also self
employed, I have been a school Governor since 2012 and am also a Councillor for Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council and also Whippingham Parish Council. I also am a trustee for a number of organisations and sit on numerous committee’s. I always try to help where I can and always do my best to balance all the roles I have. I am also the current Vice Chairman of the IOW Councils Planning Committee.
I am proud of my voting record throughout all my roles. I have repeatedly voted against council tax rises. This includes the recent Council tax rise for the IOW Council and also the huge rise of 45% for Newport & Carisbrooke Community Council. My record on the planning committee is also one of balance while trying to address the local business and housing needs and trying to control and ensure that inappropriate planning applications are dealt with properly. My voting record is publicly available and I have always tried to follow what local residents have asked me to do.
Being a Councillor is a demanding role and I am always trying to improve. I am enthusiastic, dedicated and capable and really hope you will consider voting for me on May the 7th.
Please take a look at the following information
I have assisted and represented residents on planning matters and even when not successful I have continued to ensure developers stick to the rules and find improvements when possible.
I deal with daily concerns regarding road and pavements and always follow issues up.
I have always been on hand to assist residents in regards to the Isle of Wight Festival and have reacted quickly on the ground when issues have arisen.
Tirelessly worked on issues regarding double yellow lines and parking issues even though this is a long process I have always eventually managed to succeed.
Speeding throughout residential area’s and the main roads continues to be a major problem and I have the ear of the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones who I met with recently.
Issues exist throughout the Staplers Estate, Long Lane, Briddlesford Road, Whiterails Road, Staplers Road, Fairlee Road and various points throughout Whippingham. The increased Police presence has helped on the main roads but there is little or no deterrent throughout residential area’s
Along with colleagues secured a Planning Enforcement officer for Newport & Carisbrooke through NCCC which has made a visible difference to some of the dilapidated and neglected buildings in and around Newport and Carisbrooke.
Some of my achievements and issues I have been working on
- Prevented a proposed housing development at the front of Seaclose Park
- Campaigned successfully for 1 hour free parking in Newport
- After losing their site at St Georges Park I campaigned for Newport Football Club to be moved to an area at Seaclose Park and although this was turned down by the Council it did lead to Newport FC having their new ground at the Racecourse.
- Worked to have the cycle path from the Fairlee Tunnel to Wootton upgraded, although in some ways not perfect the next phase from Wootton to Binfield is almost complete.
- Secured a major upgrade to the Junction at Mill Lane to Island Harbour which will be constructed when the Island Harbour Development continues.
- Have worked with residents in Howard Close (an unadopted road) to find a solution to their flooding issues. What Southern Water and Sovereign Housing have promised is to solve this issue and develop a scheme to resolve the car park flooding will be approved shortly.
- Blocked a large housing development of 880 Houses at Fairlee Farm
- Worked with other Councillors on numerous issues, Including my adjoining Councillor for Pan and Barton Cllr Geoff Brodie on multiple issues which included finally brining the Downside Mutli Use Games Area ( MUGA) back into community use for everyone.
- Working to ensure the Medina College gets funding for its well overdue refurbishment. Also working with Summerfields Primary school as it moves into a new successful phase in its now 51 year history!
- Have supported the Mountbatten Hospice over many years as the local member and assisted with their purchasing of Oak house for their eventual expansion and acquisition of additional land from the council to expand their on site car parking.
- Worked with users of Newport Harbour to bring buildings back into use and in particular the ‘Skates’ building and the old bus museum which is once again being used for building new boats.
- Was instrumental in creation of the Harbour committee which has helped lead the harbour to becoming compliant with the correct Marine organisations .
- Have worked to find and implement solutions to improve some of the orphaned area’s of our town. Many are on land that is owned by previous residential development Committee’s (I would love to help improve some more)
My goals for Newport are
- More facilities at Seaclose Park and more maintenance in the Arboretum
- Free Parking in Newport Town Centre both in car parks & on Street
- Improved Roads, Footpaths and Cycleways throughout Newport & Whippingham
- Full reinstatement of the old Railway line to Wootton for Walkers & Cyclists
- Speed reduction for several residential roads and all roads in and around both Summerfields Primary School and Medina College(20MPH)
- Road safety schemes and Improvements to junctions like Robin Hill & Downend
- Better Planning and less disruption caused by Roadworks across the Island