FOUR NEW PARISHES GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Posted by Admin on Friday, 23rd November 2007, 00:00

The Island has been given the go-ahead to create new parish councils in
Ryde, Newport, Northwood and Whippingham after petitions calling for the
emparishment of the communities were submitted to Whitehall by Isle of
Wight Council.

A fifth petition to create a parish council in Carsibrooke was rejected
by the department for communities and local government.

Parmjit Dhanda, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the department signed
the orders for the creation of the four new parish councils but rejected
calls for a separate parish council for Carisbrooke.

When submitting the petitions the Isle of Wight Council took the view
that the creation of a parish council in Newport should be supported in
favour of a stand alone parish council in Carisbrooke.

The council told ministers that there were significant advantages in
having a larger parish council for Newport covering the Carisbrooke area
- bringing together all parts of the Island's county town.

Leader of Isle of Wight Council Councillor David Pugh said: "I am
delighted with this news. It means that the whole Island will become
emparished and a level playing field will be established for all
residents in being represented at both a county and community level. We
were advised to do this by the Boundary Commission in 1995 when the Isle
of Wight Council was established as a unitary authority.

"I am also pleased that the government took our advice and decided it
was not in the best interests of Carisbrooke to have its own parish
council and that the needs of Carisbrooke residents would best be served
by being incorporated into Newport's new parish council.

"We are committed to enhancing local democracy and I very much look
forward to working closely with the new parish councils when they come
into operation in 2008, building on the work undertaken by the town and
village management committees over the past two years."

Issued By:
David Newble, Media Officer
Tel: 01983 823544
Fax: 01983 823109
Email : david.newble@iow.gov.uk