ISLANDERS are being urged to be patient if they want to see the ambitious Eco-Island strategy bear fruit, a leading Isle of Wight Council officer has told a green think tank.
Representatives of Island companies and organisations attended the latest forum to discuss innovations and solutions to make the Eco-Island plan a reality by 2020.
Held at the Woodvale Hotel, Gurnard, on Thursday last week, there were short talks from guest speakers, including Marc Morgan Huws, of Southern Vectis, and Jeremy Waitt, of UKSA.
Jim Fawcett, the Isle of Wight Council’s principal environmental officer, shared his observations of Eco-Island.
He said: "It’s the most ambitious strategy in the UK in terms of sustainable development and a real opportunity to create regeneration. An indicator on Eco-Island’s success is whether those businesses involved in environmental technologies are growing.
"But we’ve got to be patient. It would have been lovely if we had the answers 15 months ago when it was launched. But we didn’t and still don’t.
"Maybe for three years or so we won’t see too much change. Maybe a lot of it will be nearer 2020. If we don’t do things right now, that will never happen. I feel optimistic about it but we need to harness everything we can on the Island to make this happen."
Green Tank is the brainchild of Islanders involved in the Big Green Picnic, who want to drive Eco-Island on by meeting regularly to swap green ideas and information.
Cowes businessman David Green, who hosted the event, said Green Tank was a think tank for green ideas.
"Everybody wants Eco-Island but you can’t wave a magic wand. We can all stand here and say green, green, green, but it costs money. In the end, you have to vote with your wallet first," he said.
Reporter: jonm@iwcpmail.co.uk