Chris Jarman for Totland & Colwell

26/09/2025

Keeping residents informed on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation and ‘Devolution’

This evening, East Hants District Council submitted their response to the Labour Government initiative for Local Government Reorganisation including our Isle of Wight. It’s in the link shared below.

This East Hants option was not presented to IOW Full Council at their meeting on 17Sep2025. Of the many potential options, only the three supported by the Leader of IWC were presented to that meeting and those three were each rejected.

Readers may note under item 3 in the East Hants paper some of the options they considered and rejected. These also include our Isle of Wight.

An ‘All Options’ report was promised earlier this year by the Leader of the IWC and confirmed again at a subsequent Full Council meeting.
That report remains outstanding.
The delay has resulted in IWC being unable to make its submission to this Labour Government by the due date.

We've sent our 'Stronger Hampshire’ local government reorganisation proposal to government today. Please have a look at it here www.easthants.gov.uk/lgr

23/09/2025

In addition to the supermarket donations there will be boxes of apples and pears from our Freshwater Court.

Update- Apples and Pears Delivered and there to enjoy!

18/09/2025

At the start of the year our Isle of Wight Council passed a motion to remain a Unitary Authority, meaning it is a single-tier local government responsible for all main functions of local government on the island, including services like waste collection, education, and social services. This structure was established in 1995 and replaced the former county and district councils, giving the Isle of Wight its own independent local government. I supported that motion.

Last evening at Full Council there were various suggestions put forward regarding Local Government Reorganisation in the Hampshire and Isle of Wight areas.

Having discussed this topic at length with local residents, it was clear they supported the motion already passed and had no desire to become involved in any regional restructing or internal issues of Hampshire.

Many details of the proposals to Full Council were not available to all Councillors, others released only hours prior to the meeting, and yet others printed and left in the meeting where there was no capability to read.

We were also advised that Hampshire Council Council and East Hants District Council had withdrawn from the other discussions and would be submitting their own proposal.

It was with great personal clarity that I, and all of our Empowering Islanders Group, voted against the options presented, leaving our Island as is, as a Unitary Authority.

15/09/2025

SOUTHERN WATER ALERT

SW have issued both an email and text message to those in the West Wight regarding quality of drinking water between 17Sep-24Sep.

Although I live in PO40 I also received the alerts.

SW note they are cleaning the local water pipes ( it does not say what with) and that discolouration and loss of pressure may result.

15/09/2025

𝐁𝐈𝐑𝐂𝐇 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐋

****Update: 15Sep2025 09:55****
This appeal is on the revised agenda for the Freshwater Parish Council planning meeting tomorrow 16Sep2025 at 18:30 (6:30pm).

An Appeal by those that previously failed in their attempt to build on the meadow at the end of Birch Close has been filled this month and is now online.

It seeks to revoke the rejection of their application to discharge their drainage condition attached to the application.

There is no opportunity on the web site to upload comments of objects to the appeal but that does not preclude written submissions.

The link below is to the 60 page appeal document.

𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐏.

13/09/2025

𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧.

An event for West Wight Residents and Businesses will be held:
Wednesday 17Sep2025, 11:00-14:00 at Freshwater Memorial Hall.

Island residents, businesses and visitors are being asked to share their views on the draft plan which sets out IWC's vision and priorities for our transport and travel network. It also seeks to define how Island residents, business and visitors can enjoy sustainable, affordable, accessible and safe travel for the next 15 years.

Information about the consultation can be found on the council’s website www.iow.gov.uk/LTP4
The consultation will end at 23:59 on 24Nov2025.

The consultation team can be contacted:
(1) by email at [email protected]
(2) by calling 01983 821000 and speaking to the reception team to obtain a paper copy.
(3) by writing with your view to: Island Transport Plan 4 Consultation, Isle of Wight Council, St. Christopher House, 42 Daish Way, Newport, Isle of Wight. PO30 5XJ

12/09/2025

Together with fellow Empowering Islanders Group councilors Peter Spink and Becca Cameron, we have been investigating the pumping out of tankers into the pump works at the bottom of Halletts Shute.

A resident challenged one of the drivers who reported that his load had come from a container ship that had arrived at a mainland port.

A second vehicle was noted shortly after discharging its load into the covered facility without any markings such as “HAZCHEM” (pictures in comments).

Southern Water have written to say that these are chemicals being introduced to the sewage to prevent bad odours, but this seems contrary to their pumping station policy.

Attached is a related article in today’s Guardian about chemicals being introduced to sewage systems and the effluent then being sold to farmers.

Please take the time to have a read and share if you feel this is important.

Exclusive: Leachate is tankered to treatment works where it mixes with sewage and industrial effluent

11/09/2025

It never rains, but it pours.

Update 11Sep 12:55 - leak has been reported to Southern Water and is pending repair.

11/09/2025

Yet more roadworks on The Avenue, Totland

Be aware that another issue has arisen on The Avenue and temporary traffic lights are in place.
Water is bubbling up from underneath, has flooded two manholes, and is running down the roadside carrying grit and pebbles.

09/09/2025

Displaced and sunken drain on the Avenue, Totland

Update 11Sep 14:30 Repair job raised by District Steward
Update 10Sep 13:00 Repair scheduled by Island Roads.
Update 21:00 Island Roads status changed to ‘Investigating’

Resident reported that a bus had gone over a drain opposite number 21 which collapsed and dislodged the drain cover.
The cover is back in place (not fixed) but clearly the area has sunken and the cover may bounce out again so take care.

Island Roads have been informed this afternoon.

08/09/2025

𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐞, 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

ROAD TO BE CLOSED: Colwell Lane between its junction with Jameson Gardens and its junction with Heath Meadow, for a distance of 43 metres.
ONE-WAY TO BE REVOKED: Colwell Lane between its junction with Jameson Gardens and its junction with Colwell Road, for a distance of 212 metres.
DIVERSION ROUTE(S): The diversion will affect these streets: Colwell Road, The Avenue, Princes Road
PERIOD OF CLOSURE:
11:40 on 8th September 2025, for a maximum five days or until the works are complete, whichever is sooner.
ROAD TO BE CLOSED: Colwell Lane between its junction with Jameson Gardens and its junction with Heath Meadow, for a distance of 43 metres.
ONE-WAY TO BE REVOKED: Colwell Lane between its junction with Jameson Gardens and its junction with Colwell Road, for a distance of 212 metres.
DIVERSION ROUTE(S): The diversion will affect these streets: Colwell Road, The Avenue, Princes Road
Diversion route(s) will be signed at the time of closure. Reasonable facilities will be provided to allow access to adjacent premises while the road is closed.
PERIOD OF CLOSURE: From 11:40 hours on 8th September 2025, for a maximum period of five days or until the works are complete, whichever is sooner.