At the beginning of last week a number of VB readers got in touch, pointing us to a couple of articles in national broadsheets about the Isle of Wight.
Wight timewarp
The first was a rather critical article featured in The Times. The writer, Brownen Maddox, had just returned from a trip to the Island with her mother and seven year old daughter and, jeepers creepers was she unimpressed.
“Stuck in the 1950s, the Isle of Wight is a textbook example of the problems facing an area needing regeneration” the article starts. It goes on to say that although the Island was once a fashionable destination, according to Bronwen, it’s not fared so well recently.
Low prospects?
So what’s wrong with the Isle of Wight? Well, according to Bronwen, a lack of investment and regeneration for a start.
She cites the Island’s unemployment figures, which put the Island one percentage point higher than the UK average and wages a fifth lower.
Of course, the closure of the Vestas wind turbine blade factory last year was a massive story that had a huge impact on more than the 500 people who lost their jobs, but in her article, Bronwen fails to mention the multi-million investment in their R&D centre just up the road.
“Shockingly bad” roads and loads of charity shops
Like many others, she wasn’t impressed with the state of the roads on the Island either, which she referred to as “shockingly bad”.
She had done her research though, mention was made of the promised Island Road PFI scheme, but alongside that, disappointment that it hadn’t amounted to anything yet.
By the way, we hear on the grapevine that there’ll be further news on the development of the scheme next month.
Build a bridge
Naturally, it’s no surprise to hear people bemoaning the ferry fares. We all have a view on that one, but after Andrew Turner’s Fairer Ferry Fares campaign failed to be referred to the charity commission last year, The Times reporter feels the only solution to attracting business investment and increased tourism is to build a bridge across the Solent.
Other points of raised by Bronwen include
- The streets are lined with charity and discount shops
- The Island misses out on regional or European grants
- Cheap flights now offer more glamorous alternatives
- Sandown pier offers no more than “a 200m-long hall of flashing slot machines with sticky carpets reeking of drink”
How to invade the Isle of Wight, but would they want to?
The second article many readers sent us was that by TV presenter, James May.
His article titled, ‘It won’t be hard to invade the Isle of Wight’, was featured in the motoring section of The Telegraph.
Whereas Bronwen’s article might’ve raised a few hackles on the Island, James’ must surely have raised plenty of laughs.
James seemed to admire our Island paradise. Pointing out the benefits of our benign climate, agricultural fertility, excellent ice-cream and numerous B&B establishments. He goes on to say that “it would suit a committed group of idealists bent on establishing a utopian societal model.”
Do you agree with either of them?
As James’ article is not hidden behind a pay wall (unlike Murdoch’s Times) we’ll leave to you, dear reader, to review his plans for invasion.
So what do you think, which writer to you most agree with Bronwen or James!
Image: Rob Gallop under CC BY 2.0
