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.
GYM DEMOLITION PLANS APPROVED AS 8 NEW HOMES GET GREEN LIGHT IN NEWPORT
A proposal to demolish a long-standing Isle of Wight gym and replace it with eight new homes has been waved through, with planners accepting the application for demolition on the Portland Street site.
Read moreDetailsANGER OVER STREAM DIVERSION AS FLOOD FEARS RAISED FOR GUNVILLE HOMES
Fears an Isle of Wight residential road will flood during a ‘bad winter’ have surfaced at a Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council (NCCC) meeting.
Read moreDetailsSPLASH PARK CAMPAIGN WINS BACKING OF RYDE TOWN COUNCIL AFTER 3,400 SIGN PETITION
A 3,400-signature petition calling for the refurbishment and preservation of the splash park in Ryde has won the backing of Ryde Town Council.
Read moreDetailsNEWPORT COMMUNITY COUNCIL AWARDS CASH BOOST TO SCOUTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL
Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council (NCCC) has agreed to award hundreds of pounds in grants to a festival and a scout group.
Read moreDetailsCONTROVERSIAL COWES SUSHI RESTAURANT GIVEN GREEN LIGHT BY COUNCIL
A planned sushi restaurant in an Isle of Wight coastal town has been granted a premises licence.
Read moreDetails‘EASY ROUTE’ CLAIM AS ISLE OF WIGHT COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW PENSION POLICY
A new Responsible Investment Policy (RIP) for the Isle of Wight Council’s pension fund has prompted mixed verdicts from campaigners.
Read moreDetailsREFORM UK COUNCILLORS COULD LAUNCH ISLAND ROADS COMMITTEE
The 19 new Reform UK Isle of Wight councillors may set up a committee or sub-committee to 'look at Island Roads' as one of their first priorities.
Read moreDetailsCOUNTY HALL PREPARES FOR FIRST FULL COUNCIL MEETING AFTER LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Isle of Wight’s 39 newly-elected councillors formally took office at County Hall in Newport yesterday (Monday).
Read moreDetails£45.6MILLION NHS CASH ‘LEAKED’ TO PRIVATE COMPANIES IN HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT
Out of the £362 million spent by the NHS on private companies in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight over 2 years, £45.6 million has leaked out in profits.
Read moreDetailsQUESTIONS RAISED OVER TRANSPARENCY OF RYDE TOWN HALL PURCHASE PLAN
An independent partnership which earlier this year unveiled a vision to invest £19.5 million of public money in Ryde has again drawn criticism over the future of Ryde Theatre (Ryde Town Hall).
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