Island Magazines April 2021 East Cowes & Whippingham Area by Island Magazines

Your Local Community Magazine

April 2021

FREE East Cowes & Whippingham Area

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PLEASE CALL ANGELA ‘virtual’ group 07912 432835 continued support. A Helping Hand I’m sure many of you will agree that cleaning and ironing aren’t always at the top of the list of things to do and this could be for many reasons including a busy work/ family life, health issues or you might just have more important things that need your attention. Whatever your reason it is good to know that there is genuine, reliable help available which comes in the form of Angela, who seems to ‘love the jobs we hate’. She can assist with all types of practical support and not just cleaning, she is a dab hand with the iron and is easy to talk to, to discuss any worrying problems you may be experiencing. Angela believes ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’. Angela is fully insured and can help with regular support, one off ’s or as and when you need help. She is honest, trustworthy, friendly and professional and many of her clients think of her as one of the family as she fits in perfectly. If you feel you would benefit from some support, take the first steps and call or text Angela on 07912 432835 for a chat and see how you can both help each other. 2

Come and join our ‘At Home’ groups... the same super support! East Cowes - Wednesdays Call/email Julie for more info on 07813 635202 or joolsmarj@btinternet.com

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Welcome to the April issue of Island Magazines and thank you for picking up a copy. The year is slowly moving ahead and at the time of writing this we are following a Government roadmap which will gradually bring us out of ‘lockdown’ and let’s hope in the months to come we can start seeing a return to normal life pre-covid. Easter is early this year with Good Friday on the second of April and Easter Sunday on the fourth. I hope we are lucky weather wise and have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors accompanied with a good dose of sunshine. It might even be a chance for either the first picnic or barbecue of the year. This is also a great time to relax and get stuck into our puzzle section on pages 18 and 19.

text or call Island Magazines on 07880 587 931 islandmagazines@gmail.com www.islandmagazines.co.uk facebook.com/islandmagazines twitter.com/islandmagazines Island Magazines Mailbox No 4, Unit B1 Whitecross Business Centre Whitecross Lane Shanklin, IOW, PO37 7EJ

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust have launched a new ‘Waste of Space’ public appeal and need your help to turn unloved spaces in our towns and cities into vital natural space for people and wildlife. See page 6 for more information. If you never want to miss out reading ‘your local community magazine’ you can now subscribe to either our printed or digital subscription each month and you can find more details on page 7. As usual you will find this issue packed with news and information and we have a special middle pull out section for candidates standing in the upcoming election. I hope you have a great Easter and I look forward to catching up with you again next month.

Debbie

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Our groups may not be open during this current period but help is available. Jane is continuing to help people over the phone, via email and by text, offering support to anyone who is experiencing problems during this pandemic.

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GOOD NEWS Our ‘Sit-in Service’ allows carers to have a well deserved break and is proving very popular, We have limited funding available for this essential servive. There has never been a better time to try Community Spirited. Please get in touch for more info.

Mind the Gap Re-build feelings of self-worth and get back your confidence. The new ‘Mind the Gap’ courses via Zoom begin on the 27th April for women and 28th April for men at 10am. Their Zoom based sessions have been very successful and the FREE course is able to create and deliver coaching, mentoring and support to women and men who are suffering from abuse in any form. The 10-week course is for everyone to learn how to rebuild their confidence and move forward positively in their lives. The sessions help build support networks, learn new skills and increase self-belief. They help individuals and groups to gain the courage and confidence to stand up against oppression, control, abuse etc.

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Have your priorities changed recently? Are you considering changing direction in your work and/or personal life? Are your many thoughts overwhelming? Work with me to gather your scattered thoughts and pinpoint what it is you really want.

If you would like to book a place on an April course email hello@breakthecycle. org.uk. www.breakthecycle. org.uk

Waste of Space Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust launch public appeal to help turn unloved spaces in our towns and cities into vital natural space for people and wildlife. Natural and wild places have provided a lifeline for people across the Isle of Wight and Hampshire over the past year, providing essential outside space to relax, exercise, play and spend time with friends and family. Access to these wild spaces and connection to nature is known to benefit people’s physical and mental health, leading to reductions in depression, anxiety and obesity and strengthening people’s immune systems. However, the pandemic has highlighted vast inequalities in access to green and natural spaces. One in eight households have no garden and rely entirely on public open spaces, particularly in urban areas. In a survey conducted by the Trust in June 2020, over 96% of people said that nature played an important role in relieving stress during lockdown and expressed a need for more natural space in our towns and cities. Urban wild spaces create healthier communities, reduce loneliness and social isolation and provide safe places for children to play. They also provide cleaner air, combat climate change, help reduce flooding and act as havens for wildlife as part of a county-wide Nature Recovery Network. The Trust is asking local people to map the ‘wasted space’ in their communities, the unloved scraps of land around our houses and streets that could, and should, do much more for people and nature. This could include tall buildings with the potential to have swift boxes on, paved over surfaces which could be filled with colourful planters or simply a space which needs a litter pick and a place to sit to transform it. The Trust want local people to help find creative ways to make space for nature within our towns and cities. Debbie Tann, CEO of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, says: “Wildlife has been squeezed into smaller and smaller spaces just at the time when people need nature more than ever for their health and wellbeing. Our Wilder 2030 campaign is calling for 30% of land and sea to be restored for nature by 2030, and for people to join us in taking action for wildlife. This must be the decade of nature’s recovery and rewilding our lives. Any area, no matter how small, will contribute to a Nature Recovery Network, and help rewild where we live. This will help transform towns and cities into places where wildlife can thrive and people are happier and healthier.” “Our Wilder Communities Officers, will provide support and advice, including how to talk to your local council, ways to identify what wildlife might already be living in your community, and how to make a space that benefits people and wildlife. We’ll also be engaging with local councils and landowners to get their support so they can work together with communities to make changes which create better urban spaces for everyone.” Together we can rewild where we live. Record your Waste of Space at www.hiwwt.org.uk/waste-space

subscribe Never miss out on reading a copy of Island Magazines. If you can’t get out to pick up a copy from local distributors you can subscribe to either our ‘DIGITAL’ or ‘PRINTED’ edition each month. For DIGITAL subscriptions please email eastcowesmagazine@gmail.com and include the words ‘subscribe digital’ in the email, then sit back, relax and wait for the next issue to drop into your email inbox. For PRINTED subscriptions there will be a small charge of £1.20 per month payable 6 months in advance. Email islandmagazines@ gmail.com with your name, address and which area For a caring and compassionate service you would like or 40 Place Road, Cowes. Tel: 292932 call us on 07880 587 www.geoffleather.co.uk 931. Place Rd

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MEET THE CANDIDATES Local elections are taking place on Thursday 6th May. Although Island Magazines has no political agenda, we thought it only fair to make space available to all candidates to advertise their campaigns (should they wish to). Not all candidates took up the offer but for those who did we have produced a handy section for you to pull out and keep.

If you are worried about leaving home to attend the polling station there is still time to apply for a postal vote. You have until 5pm on Tuesday 20th April to apply. Either call 01983 823380 or email electoral.services@iow.gov.uk or go online and download, print, and fill out a postal vote application form at www.iow.gov. uk/Council/OtherServices/ElectoralRegistration/Postal-Votes. Once you have completed the form and signed it, you need to send it to Electoral Services, County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1UD.

Every Vote Counts

The views and opinions expressed by candidates and their parties are their own and do not reflect the views of the Editor or Island Magazines.

Michael Paler Independent for Osborne Ward East Cowes Town Council and County Council. East Cowes has a great community that I have been part of and would like to go forward with as a councillor. Over the years I have been involved in many groups and projects i.e. East Cowes Town Crafters, Isle of Wight Society, East Cowes Community Partnership. I have also been involved with the local Musicians and artists to promote the Town. Over the past year I have been running the East Cowes and Whippingham Coronavirus Support Hub with Karl Love and with the help of the community. This year will see a new community hub built in East Cowes that we hope, with social contact will be available to all. There will be the opportunity for more local businesses to be attracted here. I would hope that we could all work towards this for the benefit of the community. We are the gateway to the island and we need to be a destination and not a town to drive though. Standing for local council and County Council would give me an opportunity to work with you all to make this the best community on the Island. Good luck to the other candidates for the election. Take care and be safe.

VOTE Michael Paler - Independent Thursday 6th May Promoted by Michael Paler, 92 Albert Way, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6GB

Vote

TRACY REARDON

on Thursday 6th May I have lived in East Cowes for 42 years from the age of 11 so have grown up here and feel that I understand the passion the community has for our wonderful town. My parents owned Housecrafts DIY shop for 42 years which my husband and I continue to run, I have also owned Flix Hair studio for 34 years and raised 3 children here so have seen our town through the good and bad times. I have been a big part of the ECBA for over 20 years helping to put on events (Xmas in the square, pancake day, Victorian day) to promote the local businesses and the town. Most recently I’ve taken on the roles of Vice President of the Liberal club and I’m part of the IWC regeneration group, I’m also chair of East Cowes Community Partnership a group of passionate locals trying to improve our town by bringing forward projects that benefit us all. This exciting role is championing the regeneration project of our esplanade which is growing and inspiring others to help reclaim our esplanade for the improved health and well-being for all East Cowes residents. I’m volunteering to vote for East Cowes! Promoted by Tracy Reardon, 7 Clarence Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6EP

Thursday 6th May

Vote Sharon LAKE (Nee Norris)

for

East Cowes Town Council

Those who recognise me may not know that I have lived in East Cowes all my life and I am passionate about the town’s past, present and future. I have always been an active member of the community, working alongside others to promote and protect the town. I am an active member of the East Cowes Community Partnership and Chair of the East Cowes Regeneration Project Group which has recently brought about the Esplanade and Landslip Project that so many of you are currently supporting. Others will appreciate that I have been actively interested in the ‘Regeneration of East Cowes’ since its inception (2003) but have always been in the background, researching and understanding the issues never in a place of authority to be able to bring about change. Like many of you, I have been extremely disappointed by the efforts so far to improve our town and appreciate that our community has lost far more than it has gained. The next couple of years could provide huge opportunities to shape our community for the future. I believe that as a Project Management and Control Professional, I have the skills to understand the complexity of these projects, whilst my previous interest and research ensures that I already have an in-depth knowledge and understanding. I am committed to working hard for this community. Promoted by Sharon Lake, 16 Newbarn Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6TL

VOTE PALIN on Thursday May 6th My name is Cameron Palin, and I am your Green Party Candidate for Osborne in the May Council elections. On the 6th of May you will be asked to make the choice about who you want to represent you in County Hall and on the East Cowes Town Council. I am urging you to VOTE PALIN.

I’ve lived in East Cowes for most of my life, where I have worked on many local issues, and volunteered in our community. I’ve helped lead numerous campaigns including: Demanding a new Floating Bridge, a completion to Saunders Way link road, Save the Umbrella Tree and, fighting Against the Crossways Development. I am proud to be a loud voice standing up for the community on the council and in our media. Over the last 6 months I have been working hard on the East Cowes Town Council where I have already achieved many successes for our town. I’ve put forward many new ideas including an outdoor gym, a new recycling scheme, a water bottle refill site, and to keep challenging the Isle of Wight Council over the Floating bridge as well as much more. These successes have shown what is possible when we have a Green in the room, I pledge to continue to work hard in the community and to keep listening to what residents want! When speaking to residents some of the major issues I hear that you want addressing include: The Floating bridge Fiasco, endless litter, dog fouling, the over-development of housing and the shambolic Saunders way Link Road. The Conservative Councillor has had nearly 3 years to address these issues but he has not! I am proud to stand to be your next councillor for Osborne as it is such a diverse ward with so much potential! I would work to get more support in place to make sure litter and dog fouling is tackled effectively using Environment Officers and making sure the law is enforced by giving out fines. I’d ensure Island Roads, the Isle of Wight Council and Barratt Homes get together to complete Saunders way link road as this road has been incomplete for far too long! Whilst I have a vision of what our area could be like, it is so important to me your voices are heard, listened to and acted upon! This is why if I am elected I will have regular monthly meeting where you can meet me to tell me what you want doing. These drop-in sessions would help me tackle the vast amount of issues that need sorting and I will make sure what you care about is on the political agenda. I want to continue the positive work I have already begun, this is why I am hoping for your support in May. Elect me to represent you on both the Town and County Council. I will be your voice on the Council and I will make sure your priorities are heard at every level!

So please, on Thursday 6th May VOTE PALIN. Promoted by Vix Lowthion on behalf of Cameron Palin and the Isle of Wight Green Party, all C/O 63 School Green Road, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, PO40 9AT

WORKING TOGETHER FOR O S B O R N E & WHIPPINGHAM

STEPHEN HENDRY Seeking election as the councillor for OSBORNE**

07595 113289 stephen@hendry.org.uk facebook.com/cllrstephenhendry ** Stephen is the current councillor for Whippingham & Osborne. Following boundary changes, Whippingham is moving wholly to a new ward with Fairlee (see right).

MATTHEW PRICE

Seeking election as the councillor for FAIRLEE & WHIPPINGHAM* 07833 537668 matthewpriceisleofwight@gmail.com facebook.com/cllrmatthewprice

* Matthew is the current councillor for Newport North (including Whippingham South). His new ward includes the rest of Whippingham as well.

Isle of Wight Council elections Thursday 6th May

Promoted by David Pugh of the Isle of Wight Conservative Association, 58 The Mall, Carisbrooke Road, Newport, PO30 1BW on behalf of the candidates named above for the Isle of Wight Council elections on Thursday 6th May, all at the above address.

East Cowes - One Great Community within our Island Family Thank you for allowing me to serve you for the last 4 years. I have done the best I can to raise our towns profile, keep you informed and represent your hopes and concerns within the Isle of Wight and East Cowes Town Council’s. Our community has worked hard together and faced many challenges and we now look forward to the future with hope and determination in a changed world. Change only happens The world we live in is the source of all that we when people get involved, are and hope to be. East Cowes is well are engaged, and come placed with its innovation together in demanding it. technologies to make a significant contribution in supporting a reduction of Global Warming. Creating jobs and supporting positive changes to our town infrastructure is really important. There are challenges remaining and on the horizon. We cannot side step the Floating Bridge which must be replaced. Proposed large scale building schemes have yet to be defined at Norris and Spring Hill estates, Venture Quay’s, Kingston Marine Park, Crossways and the large site which has emerged at the former Fuel Depot. East Cowes as a whole is very important to our Island economy and for many other reasons. Our esplanade regeneration is under way, our high ways and parking strategy remain difficult and our community is at the beginning of a coastal flood defence project. There is a great deal occurring in our town to look forward to. East Cowes is a busy Ward and I do put a lot of time and energy into working for our community. I do my best for our community in working to support a change for the better good of all our people.

I would like to continue to represent you and commit to being vocal and engaging should you choose to Vote Love on the 6th May or by Postal Vote. Take Care and Thank You.

Promoted by Karl Love - 51b Old Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6AP

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News Report from Town & County Cllr Karl Love - East Cowes. Email: karl.love@iow.gov.uk Facebook: Cllr Karl Love Spring has arrived and East Cowes and Whippingham is blooming. Our parks, gardens and streets are all full of yellow daffodils and colour. There’s a great excitement of new things to come and there certainly is a lot going on around us to enjoy. However, we must also still try hard to keep safe until we are sure this virus has been tamed. Our town Crafters have been working away on their Spring exhibition project, a Mosaic of crafted art panels to be displayed in the town for us all to enjoy. There’s still time to join in if you would like to do a panel. Panels can be collected from the former Convent lobby doorway at Spring Hill. The theme of the exhibition is all things East Cowes.

Swimmers’ or you can drop a small donation in the form of a cheque made payable to ‘East Cowes Community Partnership’ or a cash donation and deliver it to House Craft or the Heritage Centre in Clarence Road. If you’re going to do this, please mark the envelope Shrape Swimmers so that it can be included within their efforts of fundraising for the Esplanade.

The Elephant Festival - People have also been making elephants and knitting them ready for the East Cowes Elephant Festival which will take place during Cowes week. Sadly, it may not be the event that we had quite intended because of the current ongoing restrictions but it seems that people have been knitting hundreds of different The East Cowes Esplanade landslip community project has been racing ahead in themed elephants for display in our town the background and we now approach a time shops. when we are all able to help and get involved So on to other news. You will have seen in the placing and filling of the gabions, creating seating and refreshing the Esplanade that there’s been an application to build an oil depot at the Technology Park in Landslip area which sadly has fallen into Whippingham. This is of course better decay. The project led by Sharon Lake, news than having it in our town, but it does and a small working group has been busy planning and preparing for the project work to me seem rather an odd place to put a fuel Depot when in fact it’s supposed to be to commence. This is only the first part of the project. Removing the unsightly fencing a Technology Park and directly next to a college also full of people although it has is the first aim before turning attention to remained largely empty for so long! I will the landslip itself. Project display panels be interested to read and see what people have been placed describing the work and think and feel about this idea because your placed underneath the shelter at the far local members represent your thoughts and end of the Esplanade for your information. concerns to the council. Many people and community groups have financially contributed, and the working group are grateful for your gifts enabling the When it comes to other developments such as Kingston Marine Park, Crossways purchasing of both the gabion baskets and Development, Norris Castle and the Spring seats. You can also make a contribution of Hill developments there is still no news different amounts by sponsoring the East about planning applications however I am Cowes Shrape swimmers. This can be done sure the issues have not gone away and are by going to their GoFundMe page on their lurking in the background. Facebook site ‘East Cowes Shrape 16

continued over the page

News Report from Cllr Karl Love We all know about the high-profile media term of office and wish all of those who comments and reports for the Isle of Wight are standing in the next local elections good Council Scrutiny Committee who noted luck. I don’t intend to issue any literature in March at its meeting that no one was to apart from that generated online and in blame for the procurement process leading poster displays. This is to minimise the to the purchase of this disastrous Floating environmental impacts and to keep costs Bridge! We cannot keep throwing good down. money after bad and hoping, as they suggest, that things will work out. We need to make Councillor Stephen Hendry and I have the decision to procure a new floating bridge been working and listening to your or build a fixed link. We know that floating concerns about the York Avenue highways bridge 5 worked and such an option would rebuilding and resurfacing works. We be the cheapest solution not least because have been feeding your concerns back to the chain pits for it still remain intact. We Island roads on a regular basis and trying know that floating bridge 5 made money and to seek improvements. Regrettably there this administration say that floating page 6 is only one other route in and out of East makes money but of course all of the failures Cowes when the upper section of York and stoppages create a huge loss. So, the fact Ave is closed. As this project progresses is we can scrap floating bridge 6, however I there will be different sets of problems would prefer to turn into a floating restaurant and we will try everything that we can to or asset and borrow the funds to build a minimise these. I have had a discussion replacement, recoverable and repayable with Red Funnel to share the concerns of over 25 years on a low interest rate loan. residents. We are trying to negotiate some Is bringing back floating bridge 5 viable? alternative parking with them. However, for If it could be brought back as an electric the bank holiday weekends there will be a environmentally friendly cheap alternative, I temporary reopening of York Avenue to try would be prepared to investigate this because and alleviate increased volumes of traffic that is the right thing to do, to look at all predicted as we come out of lockdown. It possibilities and solutions. is anticipated that the new visual electronic display units will be in place and located The May elections are coming and I’m so at strategic exit points by that time. Island pleased to say that there are a number of new Roads state the work they are undertaking people who have thrown their hats into the will create a long-term highways ring wanting to stand up in representing you maintenance solution and is long overdue. at town council. It’s incredibly difficult given the conditions which we are in for anyone I want to thank everybody who has been who is an independent. I am asking you to doing community work volunteering and try and give them a chance and to consider support those who required help over the voting for them. The division of wards runs last year. Let us all look forward to the up through Yarborough Road and Kent summer and enjoying meeting friends and Avenue and for the first time Whippingham family once again in a more relaxed but still village is not included in the new Osborne slightly guarded environment. ward due to a boundary change. I’d like to take the opportunity to thank everybody who supported me during my

Promoted by Karl Love, 51b Old Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6AP

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