A new community hub has opened in East Cowes — bringing the old and the new together, according to one councillor.
Unveiled yesterday (Thursday), the new East Side Curve stands next to the East Cowes Town Hall in the place of former public toilets.
Town mayor, Cllr Tracy Reardon, cut the ribbon at a ceremony attended by the Island’s High Sheriff, Kay Marriott, chair of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Claire Critchison, and deputy mayor, Cllr Karl Love.
Cllr Reardon said it had been quite a journey since the idea of developing the hub was first mentioned by the public in December 2018.
She said:
“A lot of work behind the scenes, even through a pandemic, has made the vision a reality…East Cowes Town Council is delighted with the results.”
Work started on the hub in July 2021, which saw the demolition of public toilets and an old flat-roof extension to the town hall.
The hub now also houses the town’s community library, a meeting space, accessible town clerk’s office and a multi-purpose space with kitchen facilities.
Cllr Love said the East Side Curve is contemporary and modern, meeting the old of the town hall and theatre. By attaching the two, he said, it is bringing the old and new world together into the future.
The window panes of the Curve also feature things which have been created in the town, including the hovercraft and the iconic Union Flag doors of Wight Shipyard.
While the old toilets may have gone, new free-to-use public facilities have been installed around the side of the building on Osborne Road.
The town council said it will be a great venue for community members to meet, share interests and hobbies as well as a source of information and signposting to other services.
Cllr Critchison said it was good to see some of the Section 106 money, collected by the Isle of Wight Council from developers, used to fund part of the project and make it happen.
She said she was pleased the money was being used in the community and that such a fantastic space for them to use had come out of it.
The East Side Curve will be open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. The space is available for hire.
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