A week in the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court | Isle of Wight County Press countypress.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from countypress.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ross East councillor Paul Symonds did not initially respond when asked. However, he now says he voted for the unsuccessful amendment put forward by councillors Jim Kenyon and Bob Matthews which would have allowed members a separate say on the southern link road and Hereford bypass projects. And he abstained in the subsequent vote to cancel both projects. The Liberal Democrat councillor says he apologises for not responding sooner. Coun Symonds said that he abstained because he felt the western bypass was the best option for Hereford but the environmental impact also needed to be considered. “I supported the amendment but abstained from the main item in the end because, whilst I felt it would undoubtedly be the best option for Hereford, the climate change argument is hard to ignore in terms of the carbon footprint of building a bypass,” he said.
“They do it in Belgium,” he said. Councillor Jane Roberts said the council unfortunately did not have the same legal powers as local government has on mainland Europe. “It would be very useful to secure some professional advice from somebody who is an expert in public health and who is familiar with the up-to-date science on Covid-19 transmission. “That would help us make an informed decision and would also lend weight to that decision when we are seeking to justify it to traders and residents in the town.” Councillor John Winder said the measure did not seem popular with traders.