LETTERSFrom M. Page, Sandown:
THERE has been talk over the past few days that Google has been about taking pictures of Sandown to add to Google Earth.
However, Sandown is already on the Google Earth 3D system and the town council won’t find it very flattering.
Use Google Earth to navigate to the boating lake and you will find the disused cafe in its full derelict beauty, complete with the option to go inside and see at first hand the vandalism and obscenities sprayed across the walls.
Sandown Town Council will, no doubt, complain it should never have been put on Google Earth, particularly as it has yet to promote the town itself in this way on Google Earth.
However, it had its warning some years ago when the "Come to Sandown" video was posted on Youtube showing in a comical way all the areas which have remained derelict within Sandown for so many years.
When is it going to get the message and do something about these eyesores? Well done whoever posted that video, it is quite simply a true reflection of an area in the town which has continuously been ignored by the council.
We wait now for the comments of the council, which will no doubt condemn the 3D images and state that this type of publicity does not help our Island holiday industry but who is really at fault here?
From H. B. Sutton, Christchurch, Dorset:
Health hazard: Although my letter is a little late, I feel it is being sent to you rather late than never.
I have just read an article that appeared in the CP regarding abandoned sites and development in Sandown Bay.
One of the worst sites I have come across is the old disused reservoir, which is totally overgrown, and, on further inspection, is full of plastic bags which contain dog fouling.
I regularly walk my dogs in the Broadway Park and return via the Los Altos trail and reservoir.
There are not enough disposal bins for dog fouling and consequently they are thrown into the reservoir. During my last visit the bags were hanging in the trees.
Surely, this is a health hazard, as is the reservoir in general?
The council needs to act immediately on cleaning up this filthy and overgrown site.
While I was in Sandown, I was informed by my friend and his neighbours that many years ago the reservoir was due to be developed.
What happened? Surely in this day and age, with our ever-growing population and shortage of building land, this would be the ideal place for future development.