UKIP have launched their Isle of Wight Council local election campaign by calling for more to be done for older Islanders.
As well as suggesting that future housing built on the Island should meet the needs of all, for instance ensuring there are facilities to charge mobility scooters, UKIP are floating the idea of reduced car parking and quicker action for housing adaptions.
UKIP Leader Councillor Daryll Pitcher has said:
“There is so much more that could be done. Since joining the cross party alliance to run County Hall I have seen firsthand how many issues there are facing older people on the Island.
“It is common sense to take action to help as quite often we can improve people’s lives while also reducing the need for high cost intervention. An example of this is timely adaptions to people’s existing houses so that they don’t need to go into care homes or worse end up in hospital due to accidents.”
Transport is also being looked at…
“We know that for many older people their car is a lifeline. We would like there to be a special parking permit that would allow our older residents cheap rate car parking one day a week in certain car parks. At the same time we want to protect what is left of the rural bus network and UKIP Councillors will be fully supportive of existing and new Community Bus schemes.”
“UKIP realise that as people get older their needs change. Many start to suffer health issues and reduced mobility and so the Island needs to adapt to what is an increasingly aging population. The Adult Social Care budget takes an ever larger proportion of Council spending and so we need to manage this wisely. We need to ensure that the Isle of Wight Council is being creative, innovative and pro-active so that it meets the needs of older Islanders”.
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