Unfortunately, I have received confirmation from the Isle of Wight Distillery that they have withdrawn from the purchase of the Ice Rink. The costs of repairing the damage to the roof and the associated internal structural damage made the purchase unviable.
Our Ryde Beach Accessibility initiative is gaining momentum and making significant progress.
The build of the boardwalk is going well, with about 40m built so far by Nettlestone and Seaview Shed (NaShers). The aim is to build 100m initially to test it in situ, before building the next 100m.
Funds raised for the project so far include: £10k from RTC, £10k from IW Council and £5k pledged from Visit IoW. The total cost of Phase 1 is just over £38k so we are seeking a further £13.5k to fulfil our first phase plans. The total amount needed for Phases 1 – 3 is currently estimated to be around £100k.
We aim to raise funds through a Partnership Event on 2nd May 2023 at the Hovertravel Solent Views Suite. Collaborating closely with our stakeholders (Hovertravel, Visit IoW, Isle Access, Unlimited Island, Ryde Community Development Trust, and Grace’s Bakery), we have identified potential supporters for the project, both organizations and individuals, who we hope will help us reach our target.
Smaller donations can also be received via our Crowdfunding page: Ryde Beach Accessibility - a Community crowdfunding project in Ryde by Ryde Town Council Ryde Beach Accessibility - a Community crowdfunding project in Ryde by Ryde Town Council (crowdfunder.co.uk)
The next IWALC training is on 3rd April 2024 at 6pm at the Riverside Centre in Newport.
The course is designed for both councillors and staff. It will be particularly useful for new councillors or those who haven’t previously been involved in planning issues but will also provide an opportunity for experienced councillors to refresh their knowledge and catch up with recent developments at national and local level.
The course will be divided into two parts. The first part will provide an overview of the planning system, including the statutory framework, the role of the IW Council and the current status of the Island Planning Strategy. The second part will focus on the role of local Parish, Town, and Community Councils, including their statutory power in relation to planning applications, the factors that can be considered when commenting on applications, and the advantages and disadvantages of the various types of local plan that councils can consider preparing.
Work to preserve the building from further damage will start shortly and will involve removing a significant amount of foliage from the wall and roof structures, propping to some interior walls and waterproofing. This will protect the building whilst options are considered for its use going forward.
Two new staff have started recently.
Ilze has started as a receptionist/social media apprentice.
Kyle-Ann starts 25 March 2024, as a part-time Events Officer to cover maternity leave.
Councillors may have seen a number of murals popping up around the town. This work has been funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner and carried out by female Isle of Wight artists to encourage safer walking routes around the town. The launch will be held on Easter Saturday.