Ed Gouge, Isle of Wight Constituency Labour Party Secretary, shares this latest news. Ed
The Isle of Wight Labour Party is urging the Isle of Wight Council and Visit Isle of Wight to ensure that the Isle of Wight Walking Festivals go ahead next year after the Council removed its support and ‘released’ the successful Events Team which managed the Festival.
The local party Secretary is writing to David Thornton, Visit Isle of Wight’s CEO, asking him to work with the Council and local groups to coordinate a plan to maintain the event.
An important way of promoting tourism
Pauline Hunter, who has been on the Walking Festival said,
“The Festival has had a fantastic programme to showcase our Island and bring pleasure to so many of us. It has become one of the biggest Festivals in Europe with over 300 walks in its main May programme and in the Autumn Walking Weekend.
“As mainland walkers also love the Festival, this important way of promoting tourism will also be lost. We have already lost the Cycling Festival and to lose this too would be very short-sighted.”
Drastic Government cuts
Ed Gouge, Island Labour’s Secretary said,
“The Council’s decision shows how drastic Government cuts now are, with the Council losing its capacity to support our tourist industry. The Council cannot just walk away from their responsibility though and should work with Visit Isle of Wight and local groups to keep our Walking Festival.”
Enviable reputation
Over its 18 years, the Festival has established an enviable reputation with walkers, new and old. Its programme is hugely popular, with large numbers on many walks.
It offers long and short, hilly and flat walks and specialist ones, including walking with animals; walks with historical and botanical slants; walks with Thai Chi; walks with a potential partner – Speed Dating walks- and, of course, walks with fantastic views of the countryside and sea.
Image: James Blunt Photography under CC BY 2.0
