Your IWALC Matters!! Please share your experiences with us… Meetings:- Zoom Meeting with Bob Seely; awaiting confirmation of date - this will be circulated ASAP. IWALC/IWC Quarterly meeting via Teams on July 14th - questions to [email protected] before July 7th please. Please note that the Bulletin is now bi-monthly - next one will be July 15th RYDE TOWN COUNCIL Last week the Council held its first two Committee meetings. The meetings were held online, using Zoom. Members of the public were able to send questions in advance and watch the proceedings through a YouTube link. Councillors, officers and members of the public agreed that the meetings went well. Also last week, we published a comprehensive report on our response to the Covid-19 crisis. Our Emergency Response Hub, run in conjunction with Aspire Ryde and other local organisations: ● Supported 160 vulnerable people ● Enrolled 151 volunteers ● Delivered approximately 700 prescriptions, 600 food parcels and 620 frozen meals ● Provided 1500 hours of volunteer time (equivalent to £13,400) at the Hub's physical base (the Aspire Shop) ● Provided regular emotional well-being support by phone to 30 people ● Made over 600 other phone calls giving information and advice. A copy of the full report is attached. The Hub, which is now being managed by Aspire Ryde, continues to operate on a reduced scale. WEST WIGHT HUB The National Emergencies Trust (NET) has partnered with HIWCF to award West Wight Sports and Community Centre a grant of £10,000 to help those most affected by the crisis. More than 500 vulnerable people in west Wight will continue to be supported by the work being done by the Hub. The Hub is managed by a team of volunteers from local churches, the sports centre and Freshwater Parish Council. As of June 25th 497 people are still registered for help or support, 312 people have volunteered to help with shopping, prescriptions and phone contact, 446 people have been helped with prescriptions, 497 hot meals have been cooked and delivered by West Wight’s Men in Sheds, 1,700 face masks have been made by the fantastic volunteers. Do you shop on Amazon? Did you know you can raise funds for the WWSCC and it won’t cost an extra penny? Please contact the Hub for details. (752168) 1 There was massive disappointment that swimming pools and gyms were not included in the latest phase of the easing of lockdown restrictions. Talks with Bob Seely, who is campaigning on behalf of the whole industry, have been held. Clare assures everybody that they are making plans to be 100% compliant when they are allowed to open and safety will be a priority. “The team can’t wait to get back to some kind of normality and fingers are crossed for mid-July!” EAST COWES TOWN COUNCIL We now have two sets of public toilets and the tennis court open. There are measures in place to open the play areas, skate park and outdoor gym from 4th July. The paddling pool will remain closed until government advice allows it to open. The first council meeting since March will be taking place on 2nd July remotely by Zoom. It is expected that remote council meetings will continue to be arranged. The East Cowes and Whippingham Coronavirus Support Hub continues to operate supporting the community with shopping and medication needs. COWES TOWN COUNCIL A Day out in Cowes! Cowes' businesses are looking forward to welcoming you back to shop and enjoy our beautiful scenic views along The Parade, Prince's Green and seafront. Stop off for an ice cream; pick up some of our unique gifts; enjoy ……. and tell your friends! As you stroll from shop to shop, glance skywards and you will see colourful bunting and banners line the High Street and Bath Road; hanging baskets and planters throughout the town centre display bright summer colours to welcome you. SCAMS I just took a scam call threatening to cut my Internet connection. I just spoke to my provider The Post Office and it was a Scam Call. They gave two numbers to try to stop these calls which can help. The Telephone Preference Service 03450700707 Silent Call Service 08443722325 I have had a couple of phone calls lately from “Amazon” telling me my prime membership will be renewed at a cost of 79.95 unless I contact the accounts manager by pressing 1. I don’t have a prime account but someone who does may get caught by this. I am having a similar thing with BT where the internet connection is changed to inform me I am in a Hot Spot and can pay xyz. On advice from a friend I rang BT and was talked through the icons I needed to press. I’ve just had a call from Mastercard/Visa…click…brrrr…….! 2 AGM Decision to be made - information will be sent out ASAP. Training We’ve had inquiries about Training for Cllrs in Planning. As you will know, we had scheduled two sessions for this for September 2020 and we are looking at ways in which we can safely and effectively provide this training. More information as soon as we have it. Zoom Meeting with Lord Lieutenant, Susie Sheldon (June 18) There were six participants and the discussion focused on the problems facing young people, particularly school leavers, as a result of Covid-19. The Lord Lieutenant is particularly concerned about this and wanted suggestions. Zoom Meeting with Bob Seely (June 25) Thank you to Bob and Maurisa for arranging another meeting for IWALC members. The first question was from Peter Whiteman who asked if members of the public who had purchased a new mobile phone to enable the download of the Covid-19 app would now be reimbursed? The answer was no. John Cirrone asked if anything could be done to stop motorcyclists speeding through country lanes and especially along the Military Road. Bob replied that this selfish behaviour causes many issues especially with cyclists and is something he has raised and will raise again with Supt Sarah Jackson. There was concern about the proposed Island Race for motorcyclists which was due to be held in October but has now been moved to August. John commented that on YouTube there are clips of motorcyclist travelling down the Military Road at great speeds. John also asked how ‘localized lockdowns’ would be put in place should the need arise. Lora Peacey-Wilcox asked if tourists (post July 4) here on holiday became ill, where they would be quarantined? Here on the Island or would they be sent home immediately? Bob replied that if somebody fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19 measures would be taken to return them to their home immmediately. This would involve discussions with ferry companies to ensure isolation, which were ongoing. Vivian Roberts asked about the Island Housing Needs Survey. Bob suggested that a future meeting could discuss this at greater length - (details of this will be circulated as soon as possible) Nigel Phillips reported on incidents of fly-tipping within Chillerton and Gatcombe Parish and asked if other areas were seeing similar incidents. It seems other areas are not, but it was acknowledged that strict rules at Council tips could easily mean this would change. Incidentally I was talking with Terry Martin yesterday evening and he said that last Friday, when it was ‘black bag’ day, although previously ALL black bags had been taken away, this time only the ones in bins were removed, and stickers applied to the rest and were left. Thanks to Terry for spotting this and making some phone calls…as a result the remaining bags were collected later. Zoom Heads of Organizations Meeting with Bob Seely (July 1) Breif notes….. Bob spoke about no understanding of talk of a second wave of the virus on the Island attributed to an increase of zero to one cases; he is pushing to have swimming pools and gyms opened as soon as possible; he is aware of the Camp Hill sale issues and will have talks about that. He has asked Wightlink about opening the Lymington/Yarmouth crossing. Council Leader, Dave Stewart spoke about ‘tourist’ bookings being good; plans being made for beach safety following the Bournemouth situation and funding through Historic England. Michael Lilley spoke about the controversial planning applications for housing in Ryde and commented that due to lockdown, the general public have not been able to hold community meetings about these two areas. Susie Sheldon made a plea for business to create opportunities for school leavers and Michael Edmonds (EMH) suggested that as many of the volunteers in their shops are over 70, perhaps school leavers could fill those posts? Clare Mosdell reported that there had been no new cases of Covid-19 in care homes since May 24. Paul Savill (CAB) reported a spike in phone calls about debt, furloughing and child care related to furloughing. Sally Beston (Shanklin Hoteliers) reported a drop in bookings while in Ventnor, they have reported an increase in the normal number of bookings they would expect at this time of year. Graham Biss reported that the County Show will be cancelled but the showground will host its first Open Air Market….socially distanced and with sanitizers… on Sunday and that Let’s Buy Local is going from strength to strength. 3 Report on Zoom meeting with CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of England) (Wed 24th June) This meeting, conducted by Dawn Haig Thomas, was joined by 6 members. Reports were shared- 1. About the Dark Skies benefit of the lockdown where the star count had increased and showed the Island as maintaining its good place in the south of England.