Medina Valley Coastal Community Team

A Coastal Community Team was a local partnership consisting of the local authority and a range of people and business interests from a coastal community who had an understanding of the issues facing that area and could develop an effective forward strategy for that place. The Teams included a range of local stakeholders and were given broad support. Coastal Community Teams chose their own priorities.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) awarded a grant to the Isle of Wight to establish a Coastal Community Team for the Medina Valley, stretching from the beaches of Cowes and East Cowes to the quay and town centre in Newport. As its focus, the team investigated ways to improve and enhance the visitor economy of the area and produced an economic plan.

The Valley contains many of the Island’s biggest businesses, award winning attractions such as Osborne House, and hosts world class events including Cowes Week, the Isle of Wight Festival, as well as the Royal Isle of Wight County Show. It’s rich in history, a creative hotspot, great for shopping and eating out, with easy transport links. Away from the bustle, you’ll find natural beauty and rare wildlife, with trails that are much loved by runners and cyclists.

A public consultation helped position Medina Valley as an attractive place to live, work and visit. The views of local people and businesses were sought at a workshop, through individual meetings and an online survey. The results were processed and analysed – and the final branding toolkit was launched on Wednesday 20th March 2019. This contained logos and useful text based around five themes that are inspired by the area.

The branding toolkit was used by businesses and organisations within the Valley to promote the area, on and off the Island.

Medina Valley consists of the six parishes of Cowes, East Cowes, Northwood, Gurnard, Newport and Whippingham. It contains many of the Island’s biggest businesses, award winning attractions such as Osborne House, and hosts world class events including Cowes Week, the Isle of Wight Festival, and the Royal Isle of Wight County Show. It has strong connections with Royalty, a rich history of industrial innovation, and easy transport links. Away from the characterful towns, you’ll find natural beauty and rare wildlife, with trails that are much loved by runners, walkers and cyclists.

The Medina Valley Coastal Communitiy Team steering group included Natural Enterprise, IW Chamber of Commerce, Quay Arts, Medina Valley Centre, IW College, IW Estuaries Partnership, Visit Isle of Wight and the Isle of Wight Council. WordsandStuff.co.uk undertook the design work for the Medina Valley brand.