PRESS RELEASE
Ryde Town Council reacts to the Isle of Wight Council’s proposed sale of Ryde Harbour:
At a packed meeting on Monday evening Ryde Town Council Members expressed profound concerns about the Isle of Wight Council’s proposal to dispose of Ryde Harbour, which is a publicly owned asset in a key seafront location in the town.
Both Councillors and residents, who made impassioned representations to the Town Council during the meeting, also expressed concerns about the proposed decision being taken under delegated powers by the Isle of Wight Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Stuart Hutchinson, seemingly away from full public scrutiny.
Following a proposal from Councillor Michael Lilley, ward member for Ryde East, the Town Council agreed to make the following representation to Councillor Hutchinson, in response to the contents of the delegated report, before he is due to take his decision: “Ryde Town Council objects to the recommendations contained in the Delegated Decision Report in regard to Ryde Harbour and asks that the Cabinet Member for Resources attend a public meeting in Ryde to discuss alternative options with the Ryde community within the next two weeks, which should include the option of the Isle of Wight Council selling the Harbour to Ryde Town Council for a £1”.
It is hoped that a public meeting will be called within the next two weeks and the Town Council will ensure that this meeting is well publicised.
Ryde Mayor, Councillor Malcolm Ross said, “The Town Council hopes that the Isle of Wight Council will listen to the strongly voiced views of the Ryde community before any decisions are taken about Ryde Harbour.”