I am launching a Business Forum for Ryde, chaired by John McLagan, which will help bring business together to share ideas and better connect with decision makers like the Isle of Wight Council and Ryde Neighbourhood Board. It is an exciting time for Ryde with the Government providing £20 million to the Neighbourhood Board over the next 7-10 years so we must ensure that the money is invested wisely and with proper consultation with residents and local businesses. My next Business Forum event will be a drop-in at Royal Victoria Arcade on Union Street at 5 pm on 15th April.
Earlier this week I attended the monthly “Let’s Talk” Beat Surgery at Morrisons in Lake with Police Community Support Officer Ashley Webb. Residents raised a number of anti-social behaviour issues including nuisance riding of e-scooters. I was pleased to report that the Police and Crime Bill which should become law later this year will allow police to seize scooters (and similar) driven with intent to cause distress without having to give a warning first.
I have written to the local Government Minister setting out 5 red lines for the negotiation for a new Combined Mayoral Authority shared with Hampshire. My position remains that we do not want a shared Mayor, however if we are forced to have one then they must be given regulatory powers over cross-Solent transport operators if the Government doesn’t create those powers for itself.
Finally, I have been challenging the Health Secretary Wes Streeting in Parliament, over dementia care and screening for prostate cancer. I got an indication from him that he would like to see a national screening programme for men at high risk. He stopped short of making a firm commitment at this time but my exchange with him made the front page of the Daily Mail last Wednesday.
The Health Secretary was more dismissive of reintroducing dementia as a priority in the annual NHS Planning Guidance. He described the issue as a “hobby horse” which is alarming coming from the man in charge of the NHS. I reminded him that dementia is the biggest cause of death in the UK. I have written an article for Alzheimer’s Disease International’s annual report to raise awareness of the issue.
