A Sandown retiree has said she and other residents are fed up with the degraded state of Sandown Battery Gardens. Elaine Hayes said they had repeatedly contacted the Isle of Wight Council, asking it to properly maintain Ferncliff Path which runs besides the gardens and the Sandown Barrack Battery, a national scheduled monument. After attempting to contact the council’s Commercial Services, who she said were not responsive, Elaine and 7 other volunteers got to work on the path themselves last Monday (19th August). Elaine said:
“30 man-hours later, between us, we cleared the path and made a big difference. “The outpouring of support by the Sandown residents has been quite overwhelming. “We shouldn’t have to do it but it seems that quite possibly this is Islandwide – this is a national monument that this cliff path runs beside and it is a disgrace, absolute disgrace.”
On Friday morning, Elaine discovered the path full of cans, broken glass and rubbish with the smell of urine. She added:
“When is the council going to make a permanent solution to this eyesore waste of money and time?”
A spokesperson for Isle of Wight Council has said:
“We are sorry to hear that the residents felt it necessary to undertake works to the path, but thank them for their efforts. “The coastal cliff path is maintained within the Isle of Wight Council grounds maintenance contract. “The site-specific information for the coastal cliff path from Sandown to Shanklin is for an annual cut of the grass areas over the fence, on the cliff edge, between mid-September and mid-November. “This includes scrub and vegetation such as bramble and gorse. “Under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to cause harm to nesting birds or their eggs, therefore the trimming of hedges should not be undertaken in nesting bird season. “Nesting months are typically between March and August each year, which is why hedge cutting is carried out in the autumn/winter months. “The issues with the shelters beneath Battery Gardens that have generated the beer cans and odour, are due to vandalism of the Heras fencing by individuals to gain access to the shelters. “We are currently working to identify a long-term solution to either bring the shelters back in to use, or permanently fence off to avoid this issue reoccurring.”
If they think that’s bad they should check out the state of the dilapidated town.
There are limits to what we can do!
As a thank you the council will raise their council tax by another 5%.
I don’t know why we pay Council tax.
Council does fcuk all.
Hedges are overgrown every where.
The usual claptrap and diatribe by the council I see. Instead of all the excuses just get someone there to get it done! And yes either fence off the shelters permanently or do something else – instead of sitting around chatting about it for months.
And as for the nesting season – utter rubbish if the council think we fall for that one. I seem to recall them shutting the duel carriageway in the summer to undertake hedge cutting?
I don’t think for a minute that ‘they chat about it for months’. I’m sure the attention span was no longer than the phone call.
Councils were formed to take care of neighbourhoods. Derelict in their duty now, as is particularly apparent in Sandown
So passing the blame on to wildlife
its not hard to keep trim with garden shears. Theres no need to go in mob handed with machines.
this council are quick the give themselves payrises with out any problems.
get your fingers out Council and do what you rip us off for.
And a HUGE thank you to the unpaid people that sorted out what the council should be doing.
solving the issue of drunks is actual police on the beat – as it used to be
Funny thing is that we did the work outside of the “between March and August” period so that blah-blah doesn’t apply at all. Next excuse will doubtless be that they can’t afford it but they haven’t laid anybody off so our taxes are just paying people who do nothing.
Go and look at Weston-Super-Mare, it is immaculate and manicured, used to be typical of all seaside towns but now money is wasted on ‘sharing is caring’ signs on the esplanade!
Why can’t they get people on community payback up there cleaning up and scrubbing
The nesting season is pretty much over by the end of July and the pictures clearly show that these people were cutting back weeds, ivy, and the like rather than hedges or trees. Although not relevant to this story about weed clearing, it is very simple to check whether birds are nesting in a hedge by watching the hedge for a while to observe any comings and goings. Nests can also be easily identified by visual inspection.
By the council not responding,and you doing it yourselves,they are laughing,another residents letter in the bin,thanks very much residents,well done!
thats the councils attitude!
Currently working to find a solution? We told them they need to put up wrought iron railings 5 years ago and they said it was impossible. They will say whatever makes the problem go off their desk so they don’t spend any money. There is no follow up to these stories, so as far as they are concerned, that’s the end of it. Meanwhile the flimsy barriers that are vandalised are hanging across the path ready to hit someone in the face yet they were told over a week ago about this danger and have done nothing.
There is no plan and no maintenance carried out on this path unless it’s reported and then they just sweep fallen leaves to one side. It’s just excuses.
The gun port at battery park were mostly clean till the fences were installed just to encourage vandalism it appears. They provide cover for rain and had benches. What’s wrong with that?
14 years of Tory cuts, what you expect. They cut the money going to the council, something has to give. If any of the ones moaning voted tory, they did it to themselves. Will not get any better, the other tory party are in control now.