Report from I.W. Councillor John Nicholson

Posted by Admin on 23 November 2014, 8:52 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)
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Email: cllr.john.nicholson@btconnect.com

Click here for the I.W.Councillor’s section

REPORT – NOVEMBER 2014

I apologise for the lack of response and information from Island Roads regarding the Pallance Road works, and other issues. It is not through lack of trying to get response and information from my part. The only response that I have had is one promising to respond!
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Some good news for the Parish, at November’s Parish Council meeting it was agreed to add a new item to the agenda, an item to consider Community Wellbeing. My argument was that, as a Parish Council, this is one thing that we have a duty and responsibility to consider, and everyone agreed. I have already been in touch with some peers, who serve the community in one way or another, to discuss what and how we might, as a Parish Council, address this very important concern. Everyone seems to have a good idea and, like me, wonders why it has never been an item on the agenda before, but I think we are the first Council to think of it. Cowes Town Council are also considering having Community Wellbeing as an agenda item, and want me to structure something up for them to enable this to happen, which is great. If we can make this meaningful and useful, it would be great to see all Town and Parish Councils follow our example. If all it does is raise awareness to an official level, then that will be a good thing.
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The Friends of Northwood Cemetery have been successful in securing Lottery funding to help maintain and develop the cemetery, its grounds and buildings. The plans include developing a heritage and conservation trail and resource centre, opening up to provide learning experiences for schools and visitors and to create a woodland burial ground. All this has been achieved by the hard work and support from the Friends and Stakeholder Advisory Group, and although I have only become involved recently, they seem a pretty resourceful group with sound ideas and knowledge of how to bring them into being. As stated, there are other good examples of how organisations have brought formerly remote facilities more into the community as valuable multi-resources and destinations. Quarr Abbey and Carisbrooke Priory are only two examples of what can be done; a cemetery is not just for burying people.
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Many people want to know what is happening about the Post Office. Well, the Post Office officials have been to see the Travellers Joy, and their initial offer was a non-starter, as it seems that they expected the Travellers to take on the Post Office business with no financial support and to pay for all the set up of facilities out of their own pockets. You can imagine what was said; this is totally unrealistic and completely unviable. I have spoken to Andrew Turner, who is supportive and has approached the Minister on this. It seems that there is some governmental will for there still to be a post office in Northwood, but now they are a private concern we will need to see. By the time this is published, I would have expected things to have moved on.

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John Nicholson
Ward Member for Northwood & Cowes South