Bay Place Plan
I welcome the Bay Place Plan - launched in Sandown yesterday. For too long, successive MPs have overlooked the needs and the opportunities offered by the whole Bay area - and I am determined to change that from the very start as your new MP.
A windy day in the Bay
The population of the Bay area - Shanklin, Lake, Sandown - is over 22,500 which is on a par with both Ryde and Newport (c24,000 each). And yet the culture, economy, biodiversity and people living in the 3 towns have yet to reach their potential. The report highlights that many locals feel that there are too many derelict buildings, too much poverty and not enough opportunities for young people. And yet there are so many exciting initiatives coming through in 2024 and beyond: from the proposals for an Arts Centre in Shanklin and a redeveloped Sandown Town Hall to the work being done to get the most from the UNESCO Biosphere status and the hardwork to engage and support young people in the Bay.
The Bay Place Plan is comprehensive and really clear about the unique identity of the area, with a focus on the beach, the cycling and swimming, the creativity and the friendly people in this place. Personally, when I walk with my family along the shore there is no other place on the island that I have this sense of openness and space. It’s me, the sea, the sky.
In October 2023 I led a ‘Geology themed’ walk as part of the Isle of Wight Walking Festival. Called “Station to Station” it began in Sandown and ended in Brading, via Yaverland and Whitecliff. The Bay Area is stunning - a destination for tourists for well over a hundred years! Now it’s time to make the necessary strategy and plans for the next phase.
The Plan document suggests a number of small, medium and large initiatives which could be successful in the Bay , including public art, events, new sports and heritage facilities and the revamping of the derelict buildings. Connectivity and collaboration are key - and for this to work, documents like this Plan are vital!
Building on the specific identities of the 3 towns is vital, and the Plan proposes that Sandown build up it’s identity as an edging arts base, Lake as a green heart and Shanklin to be the traditional ‘theatre and thatch’ town. This would ensure that the area kept something for everyone, but that the towns were not competing with each other.
It’s a great start - please give this a read, and look out for further news on putting such strategic thinking into action!