LETTERSFrom Tim Bristow, Seaview:
INTERESTING articles 'State of the Island debate’ (CP, 27-01-12) and 'Can IW attract new factory’ and 'IW to get better business help’ (CP, 20-01-12).
It’s all about getting economic activities moving again on the Island, making money and attracting tourism.
This Island used to have 82 brick makers on the Island up to the mid 70s. It used to have a 55-mile rail network, now there’s 14 miles.
Here are two working ideas. Start brickmaking again and build a new light railway, along the lines of the old network.
The first rail line was opened in 1833 to transport bricks from the Nash Estate to a jetty in Yarmouth. The bricks were handmade and was a labour intensive operation but the bricks found a ready market in the New Forest (as well as the IW). A new project for handmade bricks has started with actual bricks already made from IW clay and the feasibility of a pilot plant, using the latest biomass technology, is underway. This needs encouragement, flexibility in planning guidelines and investment.
Constructing new railway lines on the old routes, where it can feasibly be done and it is not beyond the scope of budding entrepreneurs. With 'railcar’ technology, as seen in Stourbridge, a plan could be put together.
What does the Island get out of it? Employment, tourism, less clogged up roads and further adherence to 'green’ credentials.
By all of us encouraging entrepreneurs to look to the past to pave the way for the future — we can go into an age of doing something for ourselves instead of negative moaning. Anyone for two commercial limited companies with Islanders as shareholders?