Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 24 January 2018, 9:57 pm

COUNCILLOR JOHN NICHOLSON

Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South
Chairman of Policy & Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care & Health Committee

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 – JANUARY 2018

The Report appearing in the February 2018 edition of Northwood News:

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Utility Road Closure, a Last Straw

Many will have noticed that the entrance to Nodes Road was closed over the Christmas period, from the Northwood traffic lights. This closure was not authorised, and would not have been authorised had it been requested; it was purely at the whim of the Utility Company, thoughtless in their consideration of the inconvenience and disruption they would cause, not only to the public, but diverting the bus service and the ambulance.

This, I hope, has been the last straw, and there now seems to be general acceptance that we should adopt the same permit system that Southampton, Portsmouth and 48 other authorities use to curb this sort of unwarranted activity by Utility Companies who do it here, let’s face it, because they have been able to get away with it.

Move to Regulating Dangerous Scaffolding on the Public Highway

Another serious accident, early in the New Year, involving someone working at height in an unsafe manner adjacent to the Public Highway, has set off a storm at County Hall to bring in controls to ensure people working on the Public Highway are properly regulated, as other authorities do.

The Island has long been a concern to the HSE, regarding its low standards of safety in certain elements of the construction industry, particularly in scaffolding, causing unnecessary accidents and ill health. Many will know my concern and campaign in this regard, and the delay in seizing the opportunity to better regulate standards of work planning and safety by those working on or over the Public Highway, has been a source of great frustration to all the well-managed, professional and bona-fide contractors in the industry, especially when Hampshire County Council had offered their experience and advice as an example of best practice in this regard.

Now, it seems, with pressure from all directions, and a new-found realisation of the liabilities and opportunities that exist, there is an escalated determination to plug this gaping hole, and thereby to ensure Public are properly protected from unsafe and unregulated structures and works, and to support and drive up standards of competence and professionalism in the industry.

Helping Improve Healthcare Standards Through the Voice of Scrutiny

Thank you to those who have taken the trouble to give me their personal accounts of experiences through our Health Service, experiences that they felt would not be properly recognised or dealt with through other official channels. It is clear that real life is seldom black and white, and the accounts that I have received show how good, even excellent practice can so easily be devastated by diversion from established good practice and protocol, sometimes just by one individual. These accounts are very important, and I would wish to encourage people to keep coming forward; your experiences will be used to support good practice and highlight divergence from that, and this is particularly important, at the moment, where examples involve off-Island experience, good and bad, are very significant. So please do not be shy, whether you are a patient or work in the industry.

Dog Fouling Appeal

Every now and again the unsavoury issue of dog fouling comes up again. This time it concerns fouling in the circular route along Wyatts Lane, Oxford Street and the Horseshoe path to Venner Avenue. The incidents, I am told, happen regularly and early in the morning – it is thought that the offender lives around the Wroxall Close vicinity. This sort of behaviour is, obviously, very selfish and shows an unsocial attitude that holds little respect or care for other people, including children. If anyone has any further clues as to who the person or persons responsible are, can they let me know, and I shall do my best to see them prosecuted, in the hope that will rid these unpleasant occurrences.

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John Nicholson
Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South.