August 2007

The Council held an additional meeting on Monday 13^th August to consider five (5) planning Applications and to consider its position should it receive any offers to purchase from it the ‘Churchyard Garden’. The only Planning Application to which the Council objected was a proposal for an extension to the listed building traditionally known as Griggs Hole (but referred to as Griggs Farm in the Application) on the grounds that it detracted from the vernacular character of the property.

In discussion the Council decided that, in view of the restrictive covenant placed on the use of the land known as the ‘Churchyard Garden’, and the consequent legal obligations and liabilities associated with such use, the Council remains the most appropriate body to own and administer the land. It was agreed unanimously that the Council did not wish to sell the land.

The ‘Churchyard Garden’ was an agenda item at the August Monthly Meeting. The Council had received several letters from interested parishioners concerning possible use and development of the land and those letters were read to the meeting. Revised plans for disabled access had been prepared for submission to a Faculty of the Diocese of Portsmouth but, after some discussion, the Council decided that it would not proceed with the submission at this time as a low-cost, low-maintenance garden with only pedestrian access via the northern end was the immediate aim.

The meeting also considered four (4) Planning Applications and over twenty (20) items of correspondence.

Parishioners are reminded that issues such as highway defects (e.g. potholes), overgrown paths,  unauthorised development and abandoned vehicles can be reported direct to the Isle of Wight Council (IWC) in writing, by telephone or on-line via the IWC website (www.iow.gov.uk) . This is more efficient than asking a Councillor to inform the Clerk who then reports it, although it would be helpful to copy such reports to the Clerk (newchurchpc@yahoo.co.uk).