Rufus Pickles - Local Democracy Reporter
Rufus is the Local Democracy Reporter for the Isle of Wight, a role he took up in August 2024.
The role, which focuses on subjects such as council meetings, planning applications and matters of democratic interest, is funded by the BBC as part of the national Local Democracy Reporter Scheme - or LDRS.
I’M LOVIN’ IT! SUPPORT POURS IN FOR PROPOSED MCDONALDS LAKE DRIVE-THRU
A proposal for a brand new McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant in Lake is gathering public support. Islanders have lined up to praise the fast food giant’s plans for a new branch off Newport Road in Lake, citing job creation, consumer choice...
Read moreDetailsTOTLAND BAY COULD SEE NEW BEACH HUTS UNDER SEA DEFENCE PLAN
Five new beach huts could be installed on a picturesque Isle of Wight seafront. Canice Holding Ltd has applied for planning permission to place 5 ‘sensitively designed’ huts with ‘traditional external finishes’ on land next to Pilots Point in Totland...
Read moreDetailsEX-CARE HOME IN VENTNOR TO BE CONVERTED INTO ‘HIGH-QUALITY HOUSING’
A former care home in Ventnor will be turned into ‘high-quality housing’, following approval of planning permission. County Hall planners have approved Chris Danes of In Safe Hands Home Care Limited’s change of use application to convert Bluebell House at...
Read moreDetails‘DIRE’ TOURISM FIGURES FORCE HOLIDAY PARK TO SWAP TOURING PITCHES FOR LODGES
Cheverton Copse Holiday Park has been given the green light to install a number of luxury lodges to replace touring pitches, in light of the declining state of tourism on the Isle of Wight. Planners have accepted Mike Haslin’s application...
Read moreDetailsCOUNCILLORS TO DEBATE £2MILLION HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT PLAN AMID PANTRY FUNDING ROW
Councillors will this week consider a cost-of-living support package worth nearly £2million – amid concerns the budget for helping community pantries has been slashed. The Corporate Scrutiny Committee (CSC) is due to examine the council’s plan for delivering Household Support...
Read moreDetailsPARISH COUNCIL DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER ‘CARNAGE’ CAUSED BY HORSEBRIDGE HILL DIVERSION
The chair of an Isle of Wight parish council has demanded answers following reports of significant delays and 'absolute carnage' on a diversion route today (Monday). Northwood Parish Council’s (NPC) Councillor Steph Burgess Flux said residents 'deserve some transparency” over...
Read moreDetailsRUNNER-UP IN LAKE NORTH BY-ELECTION NEITHER ‘BITTER NOR TWISTED’
The runner-up in the Lake North Isle of Wight Council by-election has poured cold water over accusations of bitterness. The Conservatives’ Adrian Whittaker said he was neither bitter nor twisted and that his defeat to Reform's Councillor David Maclean has...
Read moreDetailsFUNDING CUTS AND PHARMACY QUEUES AMONGST TOP CONCERNS SAYS HEALTHWATCH
Concerns about the loss of funding for the Isle of Wight autism charity AIM and long queues for pharmacy services are key health and social care issues facing Islanders. In a turnaround from Healthwatch Isle of Wight’s February-March report, the...
Read moreDetailsCOWES TOWN COUNCIL CLAIM THEY WEREN’T CONSULTED ON HORSEBRIDGE HILL WORKS
Cowes Town Council has voiced serious concerns with an upcoming roadworks scheme, which is set to cause major disruption to one of the Island’s main road networks. The north-Wight authority has said it was 'not consulted', nor 'made aware' of...
Read moreDetailsPLANS FOR SUSTAINABLE CLIFFTOP HOME IN VENTNOR REFUSED AMID LANDSLIDE CONCERNS
A proposal for a new 3-bedroom clifftop house with rooftop solar panels within the grounds of a former hotel in Ventnor has been refused. Officers turned down Paul Clark’s application for a 2-storey home off Ventnor’s Madeira Road, next to...
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