The Nunnery Steps at Cowes are to get clean up before the summer. Picture by Robin Crossley.
A PROJECT costing around £12,600 to spruce up an iconic Cowes landmark in time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 70th anniversary of the Polish destroyer, ORP Blyskawica’s, defence of the town is to be undertaken by Northwood House Trustees.
The Nunnery Steps, linking Northwood Park with the junction of Baring Road and Castle Road, will be cleaned, weeded and painted and minor repairs carried out.
Half the cash will come from trustee funds with the other half met from economic improvement money from the Isle of Wight Council.
The project was discussed by Cowes Town Council. Members agreed to apply for £19,295 from the Isle of Wight Council’s economic improvement fund to pay for a number of projects, providing they were match-funded.
Among other schemes are two new picnic benches costing £3,210 and replacement skate park fencing costing £5,800 at Northwood Recreation Park.
Speaking after the meeting, Cowes mayor, Cllr Rebecca McGregor, said the total costs was slightly more than the available grant but members were hopeful the Isle of Wight Council could meet the shortfall with economic development fund money not used by other town and parish councils.
Chair of Northwood House Trustees, Ann Thwaites, said: "What we are trying to achieve is a clean up. It is not a restoration as that would involve tens of thousands of pounds. It is quite unacceptable at the moment as you come up to the park. There is a mix of signs that should not be there.
"We would like it done this spring and would very much like it done before the Blyskawica’s commemorations and the Diamond Jubilee."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk