By Press Release
Have some pride in the Island
Dear Editor,
When my husband and I visited the Island recently we were disgusted to see the state of Winchester House in Shanklin.
We managed it for 20 years when it belonged to the Girls Friendly Society and did our best to keep it looking cared for and tidy with hard work and very little funding. To see the hedges overgrown, gutters falling off, paint peeling and the poor chapel looking so neglected was very upsetting. Surely the YMCA have an obligation to maintain such a wonderfully historic building and not leave it to deteriorate as it appears to be doing.
Even the refurbished part on the Sandown Road side hadn’t seen a coat of paint or any repairs since we left nearly 23 years ago. Come on Isle of Wight Council, you used to chase us to cut the hedges. Why aren’t you making owners look after their properties to give the Island a feel-good factor? There are many hotels and other properties left in a state of disrepair but this one standing on the cliff path with such a great and varied history deserves better.
Susan Birrell, Aylesbury
Isle of Wight Observer