Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 18 February 2017, 4:28 pm

COUNCILLOR JOHN NICHOLSON

WARD MEMBER FOR COWES SOUTH & NORTHWOOD

MEMBER OF IW PLANNING COMMITTEE

MEMBER OF HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELLBEING SCRUTINY PANEL

SUNNYSIDE

PALLANCE LANE

NORTHWOOD

PO31 8LT
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Tel: 01983 209642 (evenings best)

Mobile: 07918 757843
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Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

See the I.W.Councillor’s section

WARD REPORT – FEBRUARY 2017

Northwood W.I. Hall – A Community Asset
As many who have read my newsletter reports will know, I am very keen to encourage more engagement and involvement in the local community. I believe that this is good for building and maintaining a strong sense of community, security and wellbeing, and over the years I have introduced many ideas and initiatives to both Northwood and Cowes, to this point. In Northwood, there now exists a wonderful opportunity, with the Northwood WI seeking other means of maintaining their Hall as a community asset; a matter in which the Parish Council is in talks over.
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The particular reason why I view this as a good opportunity is that Cllr Pullen and I have also taken Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Northwood Community Partnership, an organisation that predates the Parish Council and that has continued to organise and facilitate community involvement in a very significant way. It is my belief that, if the Parish can agree terms for use or involvement in the management and running of the WI Hall as a community asset, we might be able to better actively promote events that are for, and involve, the community, picking up and expanding on the great work that the likes of the Community Partnership and the WI have done already, and maybe seek the involvement of other community groups and interests, so that the Hall becomes a real centre working for all the local community.
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Utility’s Neglect
Some progress appears to be being made in getting better cooperation and coordination from the Utility Companies, but the proof will be when we actually see it being delivered, and, at the moment, particularly with BT, I don’t see this happening. BT’s continued failure to respond to calls for attendance to the inspection cover at the traffic lights has again caused Island Roads to take positive action themselves to deal with the matter in the immediate short term. Island Roads have removed the cover completely, infilled the hole with removeable ballast and laid tarmac over the position, flush with the surrounding road. They have already had to take similar measures with a BT cover outside the Showground, due to failure of BT to respond, and I would expect them to have to take similar steps with the fast-sinking BT cover at the Wyatts Lane junction, such is BT’s apparent apathy. This sort of response and sense of responsibility is unacceptable, and I am taking my concern up with the Authority.
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Measures are also now under discussion to improve coordination and quality of repair work with all the Utility Companies. There are means which other Councils take, that can be exampled, and that is what I am driving for – no need to reinvent the wheel, and we must be robust in regulating such works.
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Bringing Local Culture and History to Life with Communities
We are extremely rich in our culture and history in this Country, and on the Island; every town and village has its stories. In other Countries, they combine culture and education, and local Councils get involved in the celebrations that bring culture and history to life, as part of the community, that gets people involved, and brings in interest from further afield. This is good for community spirit, wellbeing, education, local products, tradition, trade and tourism. In fact, I can’t see any downside.
With a lot of the stuff that we do on the Island, we tend not to personalise it, we have a walking festival, a cycling festival (even Cowes Week is trademarked, and has no representation from our Council), almost ignoring the strengths of the local interesting stories that are right under our noses. Look at the phenomenal success of the, now, annual Beer and Vintage Buses Weekend, that celebrates heritage and community in such a way that elevates and inspires people all over the Island, and the Country. And, with another hat on, I have been one of the organisers for the recent Historic Walk of Cowes, starting at the Kingston and finishing at the Union, but taking in some of the many interesting landmarks in between like the dry-dock, Cowes Stations, items marking the development of Cowes as a significant marine town, and culminating in a private talk at the RYS. We had over 40 walkers, from all over the South of England and the Island, all declaring it a fabulous insight to the history, culture and community of Cowes, and thoroughly enjoying the many and amusing anecdotes from our hosts at the scheduled stops and in between. This, I am thinking is one way how we could be bringing our history and culture alive amongst local communities, and we have other such events planned for elsewhere on the Island. Please contact me if you would like to be involved or to partake.

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John Nicholson
Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South.