Our gratitude to our health workers over the past months cannot be emphasised enough. I personally, have a great deal to thank them for, not only for the period of this pandemic, but for most of my life. Born before it was inaugurated but a beneficiary ever since it's been a mainstay for myself, my children and now my grandchildren. It is very precious and so are its workers.
With February here already, and it being the second month of this new year. What is going on in, what probably, will be a difficult year for us all? Vaccinations are being done throughout the Island and many of our readers have commented on how well it has been organised and run, and especially to the team spirit, shown by all the people involved, be it NHS staff, volunteers, carers and participants. This is solely down to the organisation and distribution by our National Health Service. Despite incredible pressures upon this service to look after and care for our population it still has managed to contact, trace and offer vaccinations to our residents and follow up where necessary. This is an incredible achievement and one which is a credit to the founders of our Health Service. People often forget or are unaware that the foundation for this service emerged in some of the darkest days of the Second World War, when we were up to our ‘eyes’ in debt and financially crippled. It's one today that we can be and are rightly are proud of. By now I expect your wondering why I'm ‘banging on’ about the creation and value of our health service. It's because it is precious, often regarded as unique and certainly serves us all well, but we need to look after it!
We need to ensure that parts of it are not sold off or privatised without consultation or that we, the owners of this service, are fully informed or consulted as to any part, and its unique viability within the NHS.
A benefit if it can be so called, of this virus, is that we, the public are more aware of the need and scope of a National Health Service and the need to be vigilant against it being sold to private organisations; which then can sell it on, making even more distant ownership and with new ownership becoming confused and with no guarantees as to its future or development. We must look after our service and it's employees and then it/ they will be able to look after us.
I have had a number of very positive comments on parking and it's effect on our town centres and beach fronts, as published in January’s issue. One concern that was raised, was that without parking meters people would overstay their welcome in popular areas, another was that it would be used overnight by tourists when booking into local B&B or hotels and would therefore use up parking places meant for shoppers. Several very positive comments that the ferry companies whose profits come, from what several of you described, as the most expensive strip of water in Europe, should support the Island economy more positively and therefore collecting revenue for parking needs further discussion and is a good idea. Several thought that it is time to rethink the place of shops to the Island economy with overall agreement that a multi-tasking group of locals and volunteers (IOW residents) should, under the auspice of the council, look into it. Almost all, thought that parking meters look clumsy, unwelcoming and a blight on the landscape. Not my words!
Now my favourite part the look at my ward: I have been busy putting up ‘Stay At Home’ signs throughout my Ward in food shops and at the same time, keeping social distancing. I read your comments and on what you are doing to keep occupied and how you are coping. Top of the list was redecorating rooms in the house and taking down Christmas decorations. Next, despite the cold, getting out into the garden and generally just pottering around outside. Several saying, “not doing too much but enjoying the peace”. Many of you said that you made the best of Christmas and New Year and are very pleased to see 2020 gone. Thank you to a number of you who thanked me for my Christmas card, delivered to every house in my ward, and I should like to send a belated thanks to my helper, who delivered them for me. I hope that you all liked the cards Christmas scene, as it was taken from the archives, from the top of Union Street (now Natwest) in the snow.
Island Roads: Harding Road had a dangerous front boundary wall structure. This was reported, removed and the pavement re-opened. This was done whilst very quickly as it could have caused an accident. We do rely on residents, reporting vandalism and graffiti, I then report it to get it removed as quickly as possible. Just a reminder, we can only remove graffiti etc. on public space. Which is a bit of a nuisance, as we are not allowed to assist removal in other areas.
I have identified several large pot holes, which I have reported. I have asked for them to be dealt with as soon as possible. In more normal times I would accompany the officer in charge and get them marked and repaired. Still I am making Great Preston Road a priority. In needs updating and resurfacing, it's a bus route and a major route from Tesco's to Ryde. I would like to reassure residents that I am doing everything I can to get these works completed as soon as possible. In my opinion it needs major works done on it!
I would like to close by thanking Sovereign Housing, the police and Southern Housing for their continued vigilance in my ward despite the pandemic.
Looking forward to the spring when we can, hopefully, get out and about.
