Last week we ran an article about an appeal to help push forward plans for an open air gym in East Cowes. The article raised many comments, as well as media interest. Frances Bourn now responds to those comments. Ed
In response to all the comments made last week, it is valuable to note and give thanks for many positive responses.
East Cowes is one of the main gateways onto the Island and organisations such as Friends of East Cowes, along with the Town Council are endeavouring to promote both the town and the facilities.
The Town is becoming more attractive with the arrival of Waitrose, the new square and the impending Marina.
Help needed from community
East Cowes is badly in need of the Community to help make changes and we are trying very hard. East Cowes is a growth area – there two new estates – we are about to get a new Health Centre and we have many lovely new shops worth a visit.
We are all fighting desperately to keep our existing facilities (library and toilets) open and hopefully we have stopped the charges that were proposed for the Floating Bridge which would have been even more detrimental to the future of East Cowes and the livelihood of many shopkeepers, including the new Waitrose.
We have new houses currently being built in the Town Centre and are looking forward to attracting more residents to the area.
East Cowes a great place to live
Some comments seem to paint an appalling picture of East Cowes which we need to desperately rid ourselves of!
East Cowes is a great place to live, all neighbourhoods have elements of unsociable behaviour and our Safer Neighbourhood Team are doing a wonderful job (and are always asking for volunteers to help).
Also if those that feel so very strongly about East Cowes not being a safe place to live our Local Action Group (LAG) would very much welcome local residents to help, so I would say to the gentleman that dislikes Cowes so very much – please help us with more encouragement or move!
Open air gym for all
So many of us in East Cowes volunteer to make it a better place to live and the Open air Gym will be a great facility for all. It will not be sited nearer the seafront and not against the children’s play area. The Crime Out Design Team have actually helped nominate the safest place for it to be. The site has not been chosen at random.
Funding will not becoming out of Council budgets, all we are asking for is the annual maintenance and insurance to the sum of £600.
Please do give positive comments and help us make East Cowes even friendlier and more community spirited.
Image: Fresh Air Fitness
