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EVEN NOW, THERE`S STILL NO REAL PLAN FOR EAST COWES

Friday, May 16, 2008
From B. E. Sansford, 1 Vereker Drive, East Cowes:
I READ with some dismay the report in the Beacon from the East Cowes mayor regarding the re-generation of the town.
Even after six years it is obvious there is no definitive plan, despite promises given by David Pugh that the IW Council would take over the lead from SEEDA to push this project ahead and a letter I received from Andrew Turner, MP, stating he would be seeking a meeting with the council to ascertain the reasons for the delays.
If this project was in the private sector, the people responsible for such a fiasco would have been out of a job before their feet could touch the ground.
I would have thought in a project of this nature the layout of the roads, with access roads to the town, were of paramount importance so the rest of the development could be planned around the road system.
In this case, it would seem they have tried to do it in reverse, with little or no chance of success.
With regard to Red Funnel, it should be told where its terminal is to be sited and not asked — after all, it is our town.
How many more years do we have to listen to all talk and no action from the authorities? Quite a few I suspect.
Does the town council care? I think so but is powerless to act in any meaningful way.
Does the IW Council care? I doubt it.
Does SEEDA care? I doubt it.
Does Andrew Turner care? I doubt it.
Will Frank James Hospital be saved from demolition? I doubt it.
Will we be given a rebate on our council tax for living in the middle of a demolition site? I doubt it.
Will Waitrose still come to the town? I wonder.
Where is the guru who was about to be appointed to oversee projects of this nature?
I think most people would agree the outlook for East Cowes is very depressing.
I once again challenge Andrew Turner to approach the relevant government department to have SEEDA replaced with competent experts to take charge of this project, otherwise I fear I will be writing a similar letter in five years’ time.