Sandown Town Council has commissioned new decorative lighting along the High Street and Esplanade, together with a new motif at the junction of High Street/Pier Street, at a total cost of £30,000.
In preparation for their arrival, it has already been arranged for the existing lights to be removed.
It is anticipated that all of the new lights will be installed and switched on before Christmas, but it is very dependent on timely delivery from the supplier.
The project follows a consultation, with the project being influenced by local residents. Local stakeholders have been involved in the selection of the new lights, trying to include new locations within a total budget (including installation) of around £30,000.
Any lampost with CCTV cameras installed cannot be utilised for the decorative lighting.
Town Mayor Paddy Lightfoot has said:
“The Town Council has worked to a tight timescale, and had to respond to supply difficulties, to place an order in time for planned installation before Christmas. We know this will be a positive boost for local businesses, and an attraction for residents and visitors”.
The Town Council has also committed £6,000 for the New Year Fireworks and are working with the Sandown Carnival Association on the event. It is hoped that the Town Council can also support some other Christmas activities if resources and COVID guidance permits.
I despair, I really do…the council endlessly bleat about not having enough money to pay for frontline services and then they go and waste money on this pointless idea.
they need removing, all of them, and replaced with councillors that will only spend on the basics.
we do not need decorative lighting – just normal street lighting is fine and then save the £30k for frontline service support
“The council” have nothing to do with this expenditure. It is the Town Council that has decided how to spend your money and they, in turn, have no say in how to spend front line service funding.
BS – the council have everything to do with it – it is Isle of Wight council taxpayers money being spent.
council, is council, whether it be parish, or isle of wight – If they didn’t spend on this lighting, then they would be able to spend it on something, that the budget at Isle of wight council level, is currently covering. The isle of wight council would then be able to spend £30k on frontline service support, as indicated, as they would not be spending £30k on something in Sandown, that the local councillors would be able to cover.
as said – it is IOW council tax payers money that the council are frittering away on lighting, whilst pleading poverty for frontline services.
You have no idea of how local government structure operates in the UK. It may be flawed but none the less, your perception of how budgets can be cross purposed is wrong.
Don’t let that spoil a good rant though….
So in the interim there will be no lights at all?
Save the money and set fire to the floating bridge that will look decorative
Now that would be a sight to see. Now where did I put the matches!!!!!
what an absolute waste of money
Sandown is over
its finished
guys..you must all stop ya moaning….these lights will deter all the lowlife scum that live there from stealing ,attacking or vandalizing lol .such a nice thought you lovely council folk.
our money is SOOOO safe with you.
possibly could you add gold leaf too the delapadated benches dotted around too?as money is no object obv.
ABSOLUTE WASTE OF OUR MONEY AND YOU ABSOLUTE WASTE OF SPACE
Can’t wait to go and see it, and get 1st hand confirmation of the waste of money….
Is this so the criminals can see a little better to do their “job” What a total waste of money. The chaotic council strike again. Isle of Wight twinned with Royston Vasey.
Money acquired from the rate payers in the Sandown area.
I wonder how many of them were asked if that’s what they want?
During a visit to family on the mainland recently we visited 3 seaside resorts and each one had a thriving seafront with shops and cafes open until about 9pm at night but the one thing we really enjoyed was sitting in a seafront café admiring the many and varied lights along the promenades. When we got home we realised just how drab this wonderful place called Sandown is. I will welcome the lights (and at least I can see what the money is being spent on).
Don’t worry, all the money is coming from the council secret money tree, it won’t cost the taxpayers a penny…not
What an absolute waste of money and the energy consumption on top!
Sandown, like Newport, is a one horse town, run down and unattractive.
If this is how council tax money is being spent, no doubt we can look forward to another 5% plus increase next year in order that it can be squandered on stupid projects like this! I despair of the bunch of wasters running the council.
That’ll make the empty shops look better.