Lora Peacey-Wilcox Leader of the IW Council – Isle of Wight Observer News

As readers of the IW Observer will be aware, the aim to take forward a new Island Planning Strategy has been derailed and we now find ourselves in limbo while we await those who failed to support it to come up with alternative recommendations that can be considered by the cabinet.

I am concerned that much of the opposition seems to have been based on misinformation and misunderstanding about the statistical basis upon which the plan can be constructed. Hopefully, the enforced hiatus will give time to correct this and resolve matters.

The delay is particularly unfortunate as it holds up other vital work to protect our Island, like the creation of a new Waste and Minerals Strategy, which is of utter importance if we find ourselves, once again, facing the possibility of fracking, as being promoted by the Westminster government.

On a positive front, I recently attended the first meeting of a new national Islands Forum, which was held in Orkney. It takes a lot to shift me off the Island and a 15-hour journey in what felt like a balsa wood plane was not one I was looking forward to or particularly enjoyed! However, it turned out to be very worthwhile. Many of the issues we face here on the Island exist on almost all of the other islands in the UK. It is plain there is a strong body of experience and ideas, as well as the potential for unified lobbying of Westminster about those issues. We all need to unite to have a stronger voice.

I was able to spend time with several government ministers and in particular to discuss issues concerning our energy infrastructure with representatives from OFGEM. We have already agreed in principle on a number of further meetings to discuss these issues. It is important we address these points as they will help us develop our local renewable energy base and, as such, our resilience against the uncertainties we face in relation to energy in the future. We need to make the Island as self-sustaining as we possibly can – surely the pandemic taught us that!

Next Cabinet Connection: October 28