You’ve done Sheppey proud!

Organisers of the Sheppey Proud survey have been inundated with replies from residents saying what they want for the Island.

Heather Thomas-Pugh from Sheppey Matters, which is coordinating the massive investigation, said: “We have all been amazed by the reaction.

People talk about apathy on the Island, but this has proved that Islanders really care.

“I have received feedback for all over the Island and all of it has been positive.”

Sheppey Proud is one of 116 organisations bidding for a share of the government’s £90 million to improve coastal communities.

Each area has to prepare a detailed economic development plan by the end of January.

Sheppey Matters has teamed up with other Island organisations, including the Sheerness Town Team, Swale Community Leisure – which runs Sheppey Leisure Complex, and firms such as bus company Arriva, Medichem, Brambledown Farm Shop and the Sheerness Times Guardian to create Sheppey Proud.

But Mrs Thomas-Pugh, Sheppey Matters’ community development and project manager, said: “We are still anxious to encourage more key players such as Peel Ports and the prison service to come on board.”

The closing date for the survey is Monday November 16.

After all the results are in, focus groups will be formed to sift through the evidence.

Mrs Thomas-Pugh said: “We are still looking for professionals from business, education, health and leisure who are passionate about the Island to join us.

"We are on a very tight deadline. It will be a challenge to put together a robust plan in time.”

Members were meeting last night at the Waterfront Cafe, Sheerness.

Paper copies of the survey are still available at the Times Guardian offices at 44 High Street, Sheerness, ME12 1NL.

They can also be obtained and dropped off across the Island at: Castle Connections, Queenborough; Cut and Colour, Leysdown; Keeley Hairdressers, Eastchurch; the Sweet Hut on Minster Leas; Hope Street Community Cafe, Sheerness; and Sheppey Matters, which is in the Sheppey Leisure Complex off the Broadway, Sheerness.

The survey can be completed online at https://sheppeymatters.typeform.com/to/IzRWkk

For more details, email Mrs Thomas-Pugh at cctsheppey@hotmail.com or call 01795 585335.

Follow SheppeyProud on Facebook or on Twitter @SheppeyProud.

Your suggestions so far:

“Sheerness has lost that quaint seaside town feel that it used to have.”

“Sheppey used to be a lovely seaside resort with a funfair and bandstand. We need to go back to this.”

“Trinity Road gardens should be brought back to full glory like they used to be. The entrance to Beachfields opposite the railway station should be radically improved.”

“Make more of our lovely beaches.”

“We want quality stores.”

“Pedestrianise the High Street on Saturdays.”

“The market would be great in the High Street. I enjoyed it when it was there earlier this year.”

“Our local secondary schools are terrible. We should bring back the three levels of schools like in Sittingbourne with a technical school to teach engineering.”

“The new Oasis academies look wonderful. I just hope the children of the Island appreciate them.”

“Encourage musical entertainment.”

“Why do we have to rely on Medway for our services?”

“I would be interested in displaying works of art but there are no adequate facilities.”

“Roads and pavements need improving.”