Northwood House, Cowes

newcowesman · Joined: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 18

in addition to my last post

John Shackelton is part of the group who want to turn NH into a nursing home, he tried to become a trustee but failed - looks at Alan Wells as a father figure – Cowes Town Council will put him as the manager of Northwood House - John Shackleton has already sent an email recommending that GJ Banks do all the work on Northwood House - ALL in-house I would say. AND giving Northwood House away on a 999 year lease - The Chairman of the Trustees then gets paid to carry on managing the trust and are all gagged because if they say anything out of place they will be reported to the Ethical Standards Committee and the Chairman of the Trustees is now a member of that committee.

What we would like to see is Liz Mackenzie removed as chair as its common knowledge that she is the councils man on the inside and is only using this position to further her own career and standing within the council. Most importantly what we would like to see is the trust given the power to do what is best for Northwood House and be left to do just that and for these so called public servants to leave them to it and stop trying to make a fast buck for them and their friends.

Also need to add that GJ Banks (the former mayor) did all the work on Northwood House previously and a call to English Heritage confirmed that they refused to sign it off as it was sub standard and not in keeping with the historical nature of the building. “Cowboy” was the term they used

I know they say that a council job is a job for life and that has always been the case and with that comes teaching on methods to keep all these ‘kickbacks’ legal and above board. At the end of the day these people are reliant on our votes, without the public support they have had to date they will have to think twice about doing what they do so well;- lining their own pockets at the expense of us tax payers. So now if we say we will not stand for that and they carry on with their plans then they must be held accountable. So we do have a voice and now is the time to use our voices.

The public need to shout and scream as loud as possible - please help and help NOW.

Write to the paper, voice your views publicly on the total mismanagement of what is for all intent and purposes a community building, it is the voice of the few that catches the ears of the many.

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Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

What are the profit making proposals of Viyella?

You don't get anything for nothing in this world. What can a fully restored building offer the community that it hasn't already got?

I'm no legal eagle but it seems to me the Council has been screwing the people of Cowes for years. They became if you like the trustees of the place, charging locals for doing so and not spending the money to upkeep the building, by doing so going against, however ambiguous the wording maybe, the deed of gift, in which case are they not accountable by law to put it right?

Friendly · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 15

The concept behind the Viyella proposal is that they will act as managers for the house and operate it in a profitable manner. Running activities like Weddings, parties, conferences, they also plan for concessionary space for a restaurant, public bar and coffee shop. There are plans for the rest the house but not much is known yet. From the leaked copy of their proposal they plan to just take a small percentage of the profits once all costs have been paid then pay the rest to the trust and the bulk of it will go back into the house. They just want to make their fee and cover the cost of the restoration over the 10 year term of their proposal. They have a greater scheme planned for the whole of Cowes, they invest in an area, improve its facilities and the infrastructure, invest in local services, businesses, schools etc. This improves the area and its desirability and thus the property prices. Then they set about building their properties to gain maximum profit. They are a long term planning company, they buy the land now while its cheap, improve the area then build at the peak. Northwood is just a small part of what they have planned for the island.

I don’t see why the council can not see the benefit in what they are offering. The house gets restored at no cost to them or the people, the people get the benefit of it and they get the credit, when Viyella are done with the council get the house back fully restored and worth a lot more than it is now and probably more suitable for a lot more uses other than a hotel or care home. As an extra bonus Cowes and the surrounding area get improved in new investment brought in.

I can not see any logic in just selling it off and letting just one organisation have the use and benefit from it. Why is that in our interest?

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

If that all rings true then it is the duty of the Council to let it go to Viyella.
Otherwise as in my last post they should be held accountable for the dilapidation of the property. Although having said that it would be the taxpayers who would end up stumping up, Councils have no money of their own just the taxpayers.

Friendly · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 15

To be honest when I first learned of this Viyella company I was a little dubious, but when I saw a copy of their leaked proposal I saw the sense in it. I accept that have ulterior motives for their grand scheme for Cowes but lets look at it at face value. Most other developers would just build and have no regard for the town or the impact their development has on it. This company takes all that into consideration, they invest first then seek rewards later. I doubt anything they plan will be controversial as they want to achieve the maximum value for their investment, something offensive would detract from that value and would cloud the good work they have done so far.

I do hope the council sees sense, but to be honest I very much doubt it, they are just have their own interests to serve, and I think because they have been in power so long they take the people that put them their for granted.

I agree something more should be done about this. May we all should write a letter to the county press and state how we feel. Not may people seem to be using this site and I don’t see many people posting many comments

Any suggestion on what we should do?

Northwood People · Joined: 10 Dec 2009 Posts: 9

on the Northwood Facebook page we are holding a poll of all those that think the chairwoman Liz Mackenzie should step down.

So far we have been getting some good responses

I will leave it a week to run and then see how it goes, if we get enough votes we will take it to the council and ask them to take note of the publics views

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Friendly · Joined: 09 Dec 2009 Posts: 15

Sorry I forget that people did not see the postings on the Northwood Village Forum before it was shut down. At the start people believed that this Viyella was a subsidiary of Austin Reed Group but later on more well informed people were able to shed more light on them.

From what I have learned Viyella was set up earlier this year as what was at the time a market testing exercise in self sufficient property management. They work on behalf of property investors whose identities they keep a very closely guarded secret. It is not uncommon for a property developer to set up a new company to run a development to draw the attention of their competitors away from their activities.

On the Northwood Forum an unsuccessful job applicant posted some information that shed more light on how they work. And this was confirmed in a press article about them in the County Press in May this year. They do not advertise and all contracts are won on their own merits and shy away from any press attention. Lets face it if you read the last to articles in the County Press, they obviously support them, now for a publication like that to take a side, you would think they did their checks first of all, and they have more access to more information than us. Rumour has it they are linked to Simon Halabi?

They have just moved to the island so I am expecting we will start to hear a lot more from them in the not so distant future.

iowjon · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 5

When my name is mentioned in the same sentence as the word ‘crook’, then I owe it to myself to respond and set the record straight. Someone thinks they are being very clever hiding behind anonymity, slandering others, getting their facts wrong and being extremely counter-productive.

If you really cared about Northwood House then where were you this evening at the special public meeting - notice of which was given in last week’s County Press? Thirteen Councillors, the Town Clerk, three Trustees and one East Cowes resident attended – but there was NO-ONE (other than the Councillors and Trustees) from Cowes or from Northwood. Not one person! You are just hot air, faceless, scare mongering and, if you choose to respond, then perhaps, like me, you would identify yourself so that a meaningful dialogue can take place. But cowardice will rule.

Fact: Northwood House and Grounds were left to the people of Cowes (in the form of Cowes Urban District Council) in 1929;

Fact: Cowes Urban District Council was disbanded in 1933 and superseded by the Medina Borough Council, who then took over the responsibility for the House;

Fact: Medina Borough Council was disbanded in (circa) 1990 and the Isle of Wight Council then took over the responsibility for the House; Cowes Town Council was constituted at the same time but at no time since then has it had any direct responsibility for the House (though if you had attended this evening’s meeting you would be enlightened – fortunately for you the County Press did attend);

Fact: Northwood House continues to be one of (if not the) most important issues in Cowes; as a Councillor it is surely my duty to try to resolve one of the most important issues in Cowes?

Fact: I set up a meeting between an interested party and the Trustees; prior to that meeting (on 8th September) no-one, including me, had met this interested party. I merely brought him to the table – just doing my job.

Fact: George Brown was, contrary to your version of events, not at that meeting.

Now, get your facts straight, get out in the open, be constructive, stop trying to slander people and recognise that 18 caring people spent nearly two hours this evening moving the future of Northwood House along – but you were not one of them. Sleep easy.

Jon Matthews

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

So John, is this an admission of guilt?

The Council are responsible for the neglect of Northwood House, which has now turned it into a white elephant that the Council really need to get rid of as soon as possible. And if so then the Council must be in breach of the original deed.

Whether 1929 or 2009 the Council as trustees of a gift to the people have a duty to look after that gift and you have failed and you must put the situation right. There's obviously strong opposition to having you flog the place off to the highest bidder. So listen to the people and serve them.

iowjon · Joined: 16 Dec 2009 Posts: 5

Mr or Ms Wight Portal, your use of the generic word "council" suggests that you do not know the difference between the Isle of Wight Council (the Custodian Trustees of Northwood House) and the Cowes Town Council (who have no legal responsibility for, nor ownership of, Northwood House). Accordingly, I (and my colleagues on the Cowes Town Council) have no so-called 'guilt' to defend.

We, just like you, want the House restored for use by the people of Cowes (just as it was gifted in 1929) - but in 2009 there is no Fairy Godmother. We are, perhaps, better placed than most to do something about it - and at last night's public meeting some very interesting discussions took place. It is a pity that no resident of Cowes nor Northwood bothered to turn up (other than Trustees and Councillors). Also bear in mind it is the Managing Trustees who will have the final say.

I do hope that you, and other anonymous contributors, have better things to do than to tap away at your PCs. I certainly have - over and out.

Jon Matthews

barns101 · Site Admin Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 56

Thank you for your contributions and for hopefully clearing up some misconceptions, Jon.

We'd like to take this opportunity to ask all posters to keep the discussion constructive. This is obviously a very emotive subject and could easily descend into a slanging match, which would benefit nobody. We hope that this topic will raise awareness and further the cause of Northwood House, and it would be a shame if it had to be closed or removed.

newcowesman · Joined: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 18

Good to see we finally have the attention of the Council

My name is Mike Cross, I live in Northwood Village and I was raised on Cowes by my parents now no longer with us, who worked in Northwood when it was Council Offices, so I have many fond childhood memories of that house and know it intimately.

I have to agree with John there are far too many people with an opinion and no gumption to anything about it other than voice it to anyone that will listen, I think the correct term for this is Public Apathy, a saddening affliction of the modern age I fear, but not from what I have learned not in the case of the Northwood Supporters. Before I go on to comment on your post Jon I feel I must come to the defence of my fellow supporters and explain why in a real world not every one can attend these meetings.

Firstly and most importantly no one knew this meeting was a public meeting, I quote from the County press “The idea is set to be floated at a special meeting of Cowes Town Council on Tuesday where a confidential report drawn up by the town’s mayor, Cllr Alan Wells, will discuss the future use of the landmark building.” Now the mention of ‘special meeting and ‘confidential report’ doesn’t really say to us ‘public meeting’. Cowes Town Council has no web site to speak of and I have looked elsewhere in the paper and cannot see any such ‘Public Invite’ for us all to attend. So don’t go criticising us about our level of concern when ‘you’ our elected council fail to announce that these meeting are taking place and the public can attend. How else are we supposed to know? Please let us know now so we can watch for these announcements and attend in future. In the past when I have learned of these meeting regarding the future of Northwood I have actually found out the time and turned up only to be told it is not a public meeting, so as no mention could be found of this ‘so called public meeting’ I decided wait for the reports to come in from the contacts of my fellow campaigners who ‘were actually there’ and most probably sat next to you Jon!

In my case I have to attend my brothers need, he was badly injured fighting a war that should never or taken place. He was shot in the spine and needs constant care, and as our ministry of defence no longer sees him as a serving officer this care is now down to us, his family. As for Patty Cunningham, she has 3 children and her husband works on the mainland, as you know Jon, child care on this Island is another issue the council failed to address so when he is late, she is stuck in watching over her children. Margaret Cowel is retired and without transport, although a small Island she still finds it hard to get around these days. Several of my fellow supporters own public houses and Bars, and in the evening are working. If the meeting was during the day the majority of us have full time jobs so although we all feel strongly about this matter, its not always convenient for us to attend these meetings. The major factor in this case is as I said before, we did not know it was a public meeting and did not know what time it was being held.

As for your post, no one is disputing what council was in place at what time and we all accept that the neglect of this house in the hands of those councils is matter of the past and nothing we can not do anything about. We are more concerned with the future of the house and what is being done in our interest to save it, who are the interested parties, what are they proposing to do, how will this benefit the people, what are they planning to do to save the house and the park and how will their plans effect it? We have so many questions but no one willing to stand up and give us answers.

We would like to think that Northwood is a major topic of concern for the Cowes Council and would like to see more being done to support the trust in this rather than hinder them with new papers and suggestions from councillors. We all feel it is far too late in the stages to sidetrack issues with new council intervention, we feel that should have been done a long time ago and now, as you also said, it should be in the hands solely of the trust and with the full backing of the council.

As for George Browns attendance, we were told otherwise and if what you say is true, we stand corrected. I assume you are not denying that Allen Wells was in attendance at this meeting and although impartial we would be very keen to learn as to why he attended this meeting of interested parties and none of the others?

I also take it that you are not denying that you are behind a group to allow Northwood House to be sold on a 999 year lease with a deal making Alan Wells Manager and the house turned into a care home, with GJ Banks yet again appointed to carry out the work? Where is the public interest in this?

The fact that has not been addressed is that the councils in question fail to recognise one of the proposals because it is just for a short term management and not a 999 year lease that will take the responsibility of the house away from the council and out of their hands. When you ask the council or the chair of the trust they only speak of 3 of the 4 proposal as those 3 take the house on a long lease. As you will see this proposal has the support of many but yet this seems to be over looked and the feeling amongst many is that the hotel or care home option is favoured. We have also seen proof that the trusts chair and the council officer blocked any request made by this company to obtain further information on the house so they could compile a business plan. This raises and enforces our question of where is the indifference and unbiased stance of our council and elected members. Many feel and facts seem to enforce that the trusts Chair is influenced by the Council and her role on the various council committees is a conflict of interest. Her actions to date prove that she is influenced by someone as if she was so impartial and acting in the best interest of Northwood then why would she fail to cooperate with an organisation that is attempting to produce a proposal that will benefit the house and at the same time the people of Cowes, Northwood and the rest of the Island. It is this that causes the people to speak out.

No one wants to sling abuse or slander anyone, we would love to be fully behind you and the trust every step of the way, but sadly because of the fact that no one is willing to give us answers, the apparent unorthodox methods employed by the trusts chair and her political and personal aspirations we all cant help but feel that something untoward is going on and wont stand for that. The information we have posted on here is based on verified fact and if we are incorrect we will admit that and post our corrections as we have done already. Yes we have posted our own opinions and some of our opinions are scathing but not without grounding. When we see that Council members are working on their own to form papers that appoint one of them as manager, and another member and former mayor as contractor we all smell a rat and the word Crook is then used. I personally like you, I have always found you approachable and friendly and it pains me to write some of the comments I have made, but this House is major part of my life, it is an attachment to my childhood and parents, it is a member of my family now, and like any member of a family we will fight to the end to see it saved.

We support the trust, we do not support the chair and want her to stand down as we don’t trust her, we will also support the council once we see proof of their intentions and motives behind these, so far all we have seen seems very underhand and almost like double dealing. If this was a public meeting then all you did the other night will be public knowledge soon and from that we can judge and form our own opinions. If it is public knowledge then maybe you could shed some light on it on here for us.

We will support you if you work with us, we only try and post fact coupled with our own opinions formed by the facts we see, if you give us facts to form opinions on we will post it.

And for the record and I have no problem this being made public, my email address

Mike.cross@live.co.uk

Thank you

newcowesman · Joined: 07 Dec 2009 Posts: 18

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

I apologise Jon. Your first post lead me to believe you are of the Isle of Wight Council and not the Town Council.

My whole argument is where does this all stand legally?
The Council are trustees of a gift given to the people and have failed to the extent that the property is more or less unusable by the people it was gifted to.
Are we to assume that Cowes residents will get a refund if they succeed in their plans to lease the property.

Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong. My understanding as a mere laymen is if I gave you my house in trust and you were responsible for the upkeep and failed to do so then I would have the right to compensation. In the case of Northwood House it's the people of Cowes who are due to be compensated.
Does that not make sense? Or is the original deed full of covenants that relinquish the trustee from blame if as has happened the property becomes near on derelict?