Another hint of what could be in store for East Cowes seafront in the near future has been unveiled.
The town is on the up after the Isle of Wight Council was successful in securing £5.8million as part of the Government’s levelling up fund.
The public was asked last year what they would like to see included in the plans and ideas have now been fed back to East Cowes Town Council by architectural consultants ERMC.
A plan to rejuvenate Albany Green has been produced to make use of the currently dead space. ERMC says the Albany Green seafront project will act as a focal point for activity and a catalyst for future enhancements.
A viewing platform — built on the Southern Water pumping station and now closed public toilets — cafe and exhibition space, a public pontoon and a viewing jetty have all been suggested in the designs.
East Cowes’ Councillor Karl Love said the early concept drawings needed development and were a big opportunity for the people of East Cowes moving forward. He said:
“Unlike many past regeneration plans our town has seen, the one has some legs, not lease because there is funding identified.”
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Cllr Love said there was a long way to go but it was a start and there will be further discussions with residents in the coming months.
Apart from these plans, there were 2 schemes, proposed by Savills for the Isle of Wight Council, both allowing for a mix of new homes and employment space.
The first incorporates a hub for marine-based jobs and innovation space around the seafront, and proposes visitor facilities around Trinity Wharf and Phoenix Yard, with a mix of employment and hotel space, with more food and drink areas.
The second scenario adds training space and hostel accommodation around the Esplanade with employment moved to Trinity Wharf and Phoenix Yard but with some flexibility still to allow for a hotel.
Can’t see a bridge from Narnia to Cowes, without it what is the point
Cowes and ryde getting upgraded constantly while sandown sinks further into the cesspit
Nice one IW council
I agree sandown should be taken back to the popular seafront it once was
so stop building flats etc on an already over populated island
More pie in the sky, like Kingstone, like the new Red Funnel terminal, why do they keep coming out with this rubbish that will never happen? And what has this set of drawings cost?
Drawings, about half an hour on a laptop, 50k, feasibility study, a couple of minutes plucking figures out of the council tax payers pockets, 250k.
That’s right, they don’t want to waste any money on unimportant things like health care or anything. Has there ever been a council that squanders all the money like our useless one does?
I think most councils across the country have their detractors, but, we seem to have one of, if not the worst at taking, and not coming up with the goods, the amount they miss out on in Grant’s and funding is scandalous, we in the end are expected to cover the short fall. Disgusting bunch of no good embezelers.
Is this really what people have asked for? Very underwhelming.
Couldn’t agree more. The area with grass looks like they don’t know what to do with it. The viewing platform is clunky and old-fashioned and unnecessary really. They could of looked at a half amphitheatre which would offer a base for displays, theatre, dance, and also give a height for viewing.
I guess one thing you can’t buy nowadays is an imagination.
I trust this includes dealing with the mess towards Old Castle Point
I was a little disappointed they haven’t added in the unicorn petting area
What’s the point? Nobody goes there anyway.
Surely that is the point. To design something worth visiting which can also be a hub for events worth seeing. A missed opportunity.
Good to see they have an electric scooter being used in a clearly pedestrianised area (illegal), and the disabled access looks…………non existent.
Spectacular.
Looks overwhelming.
Honestly all I want is to see esplanade as an esplanade i.e a pedestrianised area where I can relax instead of worrying whether I can step on a road to let a mother with trolley pass me on a small pavement or not because there are cars everywhere. And more trees. And a bike parking. And cut weed at the tennis court.
That’s probably like 1% of that ^ budget.
Good thing we have Cowes. It’s not as good as Spanish esplanades but hey, at least you’re seperated well from traffic.
Just laying slabs of concrete won’t attract anyone. People need to have a reason to go. Something with character would be a start. A few restaurants and pubs in a really pleasant setting would be a start. People don’t go to Cornwall for slabs of concrete do they? Padstow a prime example. No thought whatsoever has gone into this.
It amazes me, whenever they think of building or changing something, they show us an artists impression. Yes if built it will look nothing like the artists drawing… waste of money… Artists impression makes it look like a great place for skate boards… ohh and e-scooters !!!
be a nice dogs toilet !!
Finally a decent skatepark! Looks great