“I will continue to be outspoken about the Island’s needs,” says the leader of the Isle of Wight Council, ahead of a summit which will be held on the Isle of Wight, this week.
Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, will be on the Isle of Wight on Wednesday and Thursday (24th and 25th May).
The two-day ‘Islands Forum’ will see him will meet representatives from ten UK islands, including the Western Isles in Scotland, Wales’ Anglesey and Rathlin, in Northern Ireland.
The event aims to give authorities a chance to collaborate, and tackle common challenges, like connectivity and infrastructure.
For her part, the Isle of Wight’s Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox says she will continue to be outspoken about our needs and what she called a lack of correct funding.
Sustainable economic growth
The theme of this week’s forum (the second to be held) will be sustainable economic growth, focussing on innovation and skills.
Sessions will be led by the Migration Advisory Committee and the Shetland Islands Council.
The first Island Forum took place in Orkney, in September and the issue of transitioning to net zero was discussed.
Jobs and training on the agenda
This time Cllr Peacey-Wilcox says jobs and training will be on the agenda.
She said it is good to hear from other islands and she believes in a ‘stronger voice together’ approach.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
