New President John Pearson receives the presidential collar from retiring President Godwin
Micallef.
www.mags4dorset.co.uk
Verwood’s youngest councillor Simon Gibson
meets Janine and Kris from Viewpoint Magazine
Elected to Verwood Council attended almost every council Emmanuel Middle School and playing sports such as hockey
at the age of eighteen, Simon meeting since his election and then Queen Elizabeth’s School and golf. He is also a huge fan
Gibson is the youngest paid for the travelling expenses in Wimborne. of Liverpool FC and supports
councillor ever to hit the streets from his own pocket. The He has a brother, Carl, who them and his local ‘Legion’
of Verwood. university even gives him time luckily does not share the same by watching every match he
We caught up with him in off to ensure he can carry out interests otherwise the local can in this newly refurbished
the Monmouth Ash to find out his duties in a electorate could think they were establishment.
how he has found his first year. p r o f e s s i o n a l seeing double. Carl is Simon’s “I love the new Legion,” he
“It’s been tough,” Simon manner. identical twin and is enrolled in says. “It has a great family feel
admits. O r i g i n a l l y a classics course at Oxford. to it, great food and is great for
The main reason is because a from Belfast, Simon on the other hand pool and snooker playing.” Kris
few months after the election, he Simon has really enjoys getting involved also being a member, couldn’t
gained a place at Loughborough lived in with local politics because he help but agree with what he
University to study Politics and Verwood for sees the results of his decisions says.
Economics and he’s had to fit almost ten straight away. One thing that irritates
in the council meetings in years, being Eager to represent the large Simon is the ‘recent’ road
between. e d u c a t e d proportion of young residents in improvements in the town,
“Sometimes I first at Verwood, Simon has just been which included the one way
spend sixteen hours elected onto the committee to system around Verwood and
on a coach in the oversee the setting up of MUGA closure of the direct route to
space of two – the multi use games area. This the British Legion hall. “I can’t
days,” said is an all-weather sports surface understand why they closed the
S i m o n , proposed for the recreation road off,” he says.
w h o ground. On the subject of roads, he
h a s As well as being the voice mentioned that a 100 strong
of the young, Simon has strong petition had been handed in
views on caring for those less recently about speeding on
able, “We have a lot of elderly the Ringwood Road towards
and disabled residents,” he Ringwood. He said, “Alerting
says. He is proactive in gaining the council to a problem such
improvements for wheelchair as this is one way to get action.
and mobility scooter access The more complaints the better
around the town, such as and we are looking into getting
sloping ramps, handrails and another
dropped kerbs. speed camera installed along
“Raised kerbs are needed this stretch of road.”
too,” he adds. Pointing out that Being a year younger,
there is one in Hillside Road and a local resident, Kris
enabling easier wheelchair was impressed by Simon’s
access onto buses. Further knowledge of local politics
improvements he hopes to see and the way he handled the
during his time as a councillor interview. Certainly a young
are for better access for outloook is something Verwood
the disabled at the council has lacked in the past and
offices. perhaps Simon’s success in the
Like any young lad, role will inspire more young
Cllr Simon Gibson
Simon likes to keep fit by people to get involved with the
town council in the future.
Simon would love residents
to blog him at cllrgibson.
blogspot.com. Or you can
contact Cllr Simon Gibson on
cllr.gibson@hotmail.co.uk
LED towards
a brighter future
Wimborne Minster’s Chamber
of Trade is investing wisely in
its Christmas lights this year.
Aiming to reduce the town’s
carbon footprint, the chamber
are switching £12,000 into new
LED festive lights. Chairman,
Malcolm Angel, said, “The LED
lights will help us reduce our
carbon footprint by about 85
per cent.”
The finances have been
helped along with contributions
from businesses about the town
and a donation of £2,000 from
East Dorset District Council.
The grand switch on is due to
take place on 29 November.
Wimborne Viewpoint 
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