New playground equipment in Big Mead park, a sea wall restoration and a redecorated Shanklin Cliff Lift are just some of the ideas being mooted as part of an Isle of Wight regeneration plan.
A host of Shanklin works included in the Bay Area Place Plan are either currently underway or being considered, Councillor Michael Beston said in a report presented to Shanklin Town Council’s November meeting last week.
Regeneration of the Bays
Launched in January this year, the plan is being delivered by the Isle of Wight Council in partnership with the Lake, Sandown and Shanklin parish councils.
Its aims include economic growth, infrastructure investment and improving residents’ quality of life.
A range of projects
Councillor Beston, who could not attend last week’s meeting in-person, outlined projects including the restoration of Shanklin’s sea wall from the Lazy Wave Cafe to Little Hope Beach with an upgrade and replacement of all groynes, rebuilding Shanklin Performing Arts Centre to provide ‘versatile community spaces’ and restoring Shanklin Esplanade’s Diamond Jubilee Clock.
Other schemes mentioned were improvements to the town’s Cliff Lift with a canopy replacement and external redecoration and enhancements to the Big Mead parkland to the south of Shanklin Old Village involving new playground equipment, possible new WC facilities and the installation of benches and picnic tables.
Councillor Beston’s document said,
“The Bay Place Plan steering group held its first successful AGM at the Shanklin Youth and Community Centre on 11th November 2024.
“The number of people who attended to engage in the process from the Bay Area community was really encouraging.
“This included residents, business owners, councillors and Isle of Wight Council officers.
“All the comments, ideas and feedback from the AGM will be collated and published in due course.
“All three town and parish councils in the Bay Area (Lake, Shanklin and Sandown) have the details of the finalised Bay Plan on each of their websites.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
