Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 22 August 2020, 1:11 am

COUNCILLOR JOHN NICHOLSON

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

SUNNYSIDE

PALLANCE LANE

NORTHWOOD

PO31 8LT
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Tel: 07918 757843

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Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

See the I.W. Councillor’s section

WARD REPORT – AUGUST 2020

The Report appearing in the September 2020 edition of Northwood News:

Staying Safe – But, At What Cost? The Case for Localism

Comparatively speaking, it is very clear now that we on the Island have endured what is being presented as the first round of this virus, Covid 19, exceptionally well. From what I understand, the mortality figures attributed to Covid are significantly less than those attributed to the flu round in 2018, where (if my sources are right) we lost 130 people on the Island. I say attributed because there are often underlying causes or circumstantial associations that are linked to epidemics that mean deaths that may not be directly due to the epidemic infection itself are included in the mortality count because there was an influence from the epidemic in one way or another. To bear this out, some people have contacted me, distressed that a relative’s death certificate (not necessarily on the Island) has Covid on it when the family know that the death was really from other inevitable causes, and having this official diagnosis brings extra distress, so highly has the Covid pandemic been emotionally charged.

Of course we should be careful and take reasoned steps to ensure effective protection from spread of any infectious condition that may lead to significant and unpredictable mortality, but, until now, we have been subjected to the same bewildering blanket measures as the rest of the Country. So, for example, the same as densely populated cities, with conditions where infections can spread like wildfire.

Those who are used to having to make assessment of risk in dangerous situations know that implementation of controls needs to be very measured, directed, monitored and adjusted to ensure effectivity whilst still facilitating operations to be carried out, but in a steady, safe way. In the Construction Industry, for example, both predictable and unforeseen dangers can arise, and accidents happen when inadequate controls are exercised, often accompanied by, and as a result of, plain lack of clear risk awareness. Is it not the same principal in dealing with anything else?

In my humble observation, there is nothing that the likes of pubs and shops are doing now that they could not have done months ago, with equal effect. I am not blaming the decision makers and their advisors, because there is no rule book written for dealing with the current threat, but I cannot help feeling that we have responded with too much knee-jerk rection (face masks no good, face masks good, schools a priority for closing, schools a priority for opening, worldwide discrepancies in advice, etc), without due consideration of the devastating effects of the draconian measures we have taken, the full impact of which, I think, is only just beginning to roll out (I hope I am wrong!), not just to industry and employment, but to mental wellbeing and its consequential physical counterpart and the toll on our social structure and way of living.

I have therefore asked the question, bearing in mind how successful the Island has been in protecting its people from infection so far, are we now set for a more localised response to implementation of measures that balance both the real time local risk and the collateral fallout of such measures – an intelligent approach? After all, whilst no one wants to be careless in addressing risk, neither do they want to take disproportionate, drastic and far reaching prohibitive steps for a risk that is actually relatively and comparatively low.

Sorry if I offend anyone, but I do think this argument needs to be stated, as it is reflective of what many people think.

Place Plan Update

Our consultants in developing the Cowes & Northwood Place Plan are now starting to get it rolling with visits through the town and other locations in order to raise awareness of the Plan and to encourage people to complete the simple survey that will give a basic snapshot of how people feel about our area. Responses to this survey will help to steer the direction of development of the Plan – https://arc-consulting.co.uk/CN-Place-Plan/. There will also be explanatory cards raising awareness in local pubs and shops.

Road Jams

People do understand that when there are roadworks there will be some disruption, and that some works have to be carried out with urgency for safety reasons. What they cannot accept is when there is poor or misleading advice on time delays or inadequate explanation of disruptive scheduling on alternative routes. I have raised this issue as a clear high-flying flag and am reassured by the constructive response received.

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John Nicholson

Ward Councillor for Northwood & Cowes South
Chairman, Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Adult Social Care & Health

See the I.W. Councillor’s section