FOUR new parish councils are set to be created on the Isle of Wight next year following a decision by the government.
The Island has been given the go-ahead to create new parish councils in Ryde, Newport, Northwood and Whippingham after petitions calling for the emparishment of the communities were submitted to Whitehall by Isle of Wight Council.
A fifth petition to create a parish council in Carisbrooke was rejected by the department for communities and local government.
Parmjit Dhanda, Parliamentary Under Secretary for the department signed the orders for the creation of the four new parish councils but rejected calls for a separate parish council for Carisbrooke.
When submitting the petitions the Isle of Wight Council took the view that the creation of a parish council in Newport should be supported in favour of a stand alone parish council in Carisbrooke.
The council told ministers that there were significant advantages in having a larger parish council for Newport covering the Carisbrooke area – bringing together all parts of the Island’s county town.
Leader of Isle of Wight Council Councillor David Pugh said: “I am delighted with this news. It means that the whole Island will become emparished and a level playing field will be established for all residents in being represented at both a county and community level. We were advised to do this by the Boundary Commission in 1995 when the Isle of Wight Council was established as a unitary authority.
“I am also pleased that the government took our advice and decided it was not in the best interests of Carisbrooke to have its own parish council and that the needs of Carisbrooke residents would best be served by being incorporated into Newport’s new parish council.
“We are committed to enhancing local democracy and I very much look forward to working closely with the new parish councils when they come into operation in 2008, building on the work undertaken by the town and village management committees over the past two years.”
