We have all followed the good news of a roadmap to take the country out of lockdown and these announcements will have a significant impact for the Isle of Wight.

I am sure many will be pleased they can see a timeframe for Island life opening up once again.

So my message to everyone today is to take it slow and steadily.

We have effectively spent the past 12 months in a state of suspension in terms of how we have been living — and now the door is opening and our future horizon is opening up before us as well.

Many have been shielded, many have lost employment and many have lived in fear of Covid and some have sadly passed — and we know all these and other factors have had a big impact on everyone’s wellbeing.

But knowing the pandemic is not yet over, I think it is important we tread carefully as we move forward.

In all my messages to the community during the year I have encouraged a safe and steady response, and there is no doubt our community has stepped up to the plate when it comes to protecting ourselves and others.

Now we must step into the new world and still enjoy all the Island has to offer.

We will be looking to re-engage with our family and friends and re-introduce ourselves to what we had perhaps taken for granted — meeting, greeting, sharing time together, visiting the beach or the countryside or just going to the shops or the pub once again.

Following the roadmap will help us to be able to do so in a safe and sensible way. If all goes to plan, by the summer we should be looking back and celebrating coming through Covid safely and learning how to live with it in the future.

So, I would encourage everyone to stay safe, take things steady, get vaccinated when you are called to do so, and look forward to opening up our life once again.