A 3-month long project to improve East Cowes Esplanade will commence shortly, but the landslip won’t be cleared to enable the re-opening of the road to Old Castle Point.
In 2019, the Esplanade was nominated by local people as an area regeneration priority and so the project appeared in the council’s ‘Inspiration Island’ regeneration strategy. Since then the Isle of Wight Council has been working with East Cowes Community Partnership and East Cowes Town Council to identify funding to start the work.
In 2020, the local community donated over £27,000 of sponsorship towards the project, following over 1,000 hours of volunteer cleanups to make the site ready.
Funding to realise this community aspiration has come from many sources, including the government’s Welcome Back fund and other contributions from the Isle of Wight Council and local business.
With pandemic restrictions easing, John Peck Construction has been awarded the contract to undertake the project, which will take around 3 months to complete.
Rock filled baskets and new seating are expected to deliver a much better visitor and resident experience.
Sharon Lake from the East Cowes Regeneration group has said:
“Our community has been waiting for almost seven years to improve access to our esplanade. Every consultation done during that time has identified the esplanade as being a top priority for improvement and accessibility.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are extremely proud of the support received from residents, businesses and community groups. Without their initial support and fundraising efforts this project would never have got off the ground.
“Residents raised an initial £15,000, and the rest of the community funding included contributions from East Cowes Town Council, Sovereign Housing, and community groups including the Shrape Swimmers who undertook a virtual round-the-Island swim during lockdown. It’s been a long time coming but I am excited to see it come to fruition.
“Next, we hope to be working alongside the Isle of Wight Council on a woodland management plan, and further accessibility improvements. Eventually we hope a solution to treatment of the landslip itself can be identified.
“Our community doesn’t ask for much, but as far as we are concerned the esplanade is one of the jewels in the East Cowes crown.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans has said:
“I’m delighted to confirm the Isle of Wight Council is listening to what people in the town have been asking for, and giving priority to East Cowes Esplanade.
“What’s more, we are putting regeneration money into this scheme because we know it will benefit the wider town of East Cowes. And there’s much more to come, with the £5.8m Levelling-Up Fund investment into the East Cowes Marine Hub.
“The esplanade improvement project is a great example of community-led regeneration working alongside island and government ambitions to improve quality of life and prosperity for everybody.”
I’d love more space for pedestrians to have a comfortable walk… you know, the __definition__ of esplanade. Right now you go there to enjoy the sea but are forced to stand on a narrow sidewalk, breathe in petrol from noisy idling cars, keep your dog on a tight leash and kids close so they don’t get run over and watch how cars go full length of the street down to gate just to turn over – because leaving a car on parking that’s already there is too much to ask I guess. What a joy of a relaxing walk it is!
I’d argue East Cowes has no esplanade yet. It’s just a narrow sidewalk next to a road.
I too agree the landslip should be cleared. Also think they should make a car park area down that end. That would attract even more tourists. Many times I have driven down and never able to find parking place so left.. Now I never go there, no where to park.. filthy seating… no very appealing at all. Are there any public toilets along there ??
Is this ‘3-month’ scheme likely to be on the same quoted timetable as Sandown High Street which is still in chaos and shut off???
Yes deffo parking needs to be addressed and the land slip is dangerous waiting for another accident to happen. Good seating for people to enjoy the view and clean hygienic toilets a very good idea too.