Gill Nethercott dies from Motor Neurone Disease (North West Hampshire Liberal Democrats)

North West Hampshire Liberal Democrats <info@nwhantslibdems.org.uk>

Gill Nethercott dies from Motor Neurone Disease

July 6, 2006 8:46 PM

Gill Nethercott

Former Whitchurch Liberal Democrat Councillor Gill Nethercott died from Motor Neurone Disease on Thursday 6 July 2006.

Gill Nethercott was elected to Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council in 1994 and always took a positive interest in planning and development control issues. For several years Gill was Chair of the Borough Development Control Committee, a position that prevented her from making public comments on local Planning Applications. Earlier, within the Council, Gill played a full part in planning the Festival Place development of Basingstoke Town Centre.

As a member of Whitchurch Town Council since 1990, Gill started the process that has led to the building of a new Community Hall for Whitchurch. The 'community profile' identified what sort of facilities existed and what local people needed. It fed into developments at Testbourne School as well as the Borough Council's building programme. Work on construction of The Gill Nethercott Centre near the Silk Mill car park began in March 2006.

Also as a Town Councillor, Gill was closely involved in the acquisition of land for a cemetery extension and the Queen's Golden Jubilee memorial. She chaired the committee that acquired land in Winchester Road, securing the future of the allotments and enabling creation of the Millennium Meadow. Gill Nethercott was the first lady to be Mayor of Whitchurch.

Gill Nethercott will be greatly missed by concerned local people and by members of the Councils on which she served. She was a great campaigner who led the successful effort to keep a Post Office counter in Whitchurch. Gill had a talent for motivating groups of volunteers to work with the authorities in serving the community.

Before she was a Councillor, Gill started Neighbourhood Watch in Whitchurch after discovering vandals in the Amateur Dramatics hut. As a Councillor, her projects included getting the Town Design Statement work under way and the 'Town Health Check' that has led to the formation of the Whitchurch Association.

October 2004 Gill was told she had Motor Neurone Disease. Motor Neurone Disease affects the nerves that tell your muscles what to do. At the moment there is no cure. As the nerves become damaged the muscles they control weaken and waste. Gill continued with her Council duties while confined to a wheel chair until March of this year. Gill had been a highly valued member of the Liberal Democrat Group and she will be a hard act to follow.

Gill leaves her husband, Paul, and her son Mark. Her family cared for her through her dreadful illness with support from neighbours and friends.

For information about Motor Neurone Disease visit www.mndassociation.org