Isle of Wight Councillor Reuben Loake has condemned what he said appears to be a ‘disgusting criminal act’ against the ‘good people of Ryde’ in response to suspected arson at Ryde Town Hall earlier this week.
Ryde North West’s new Reform UK representative Cllr Loake said he held a meeting with council officers on Thursday and escalated the matter to Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service suspect arson as the cause of the fire at Ryde Town Hall and police have said enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
As previously reported by Island Echo, 6 pumping appliances from across the Isle of Wight were called to the scene on Lind Street at around 23:30 on Wednesday.
Cllr Loake said:
“The whole town was devastated on receiving the news that the Town Hall had been partially destroyed by a fire in the early hours of Thursday.
Article continues below this advertisement “Initially it appears to be arson, and a group of youths were seen entering and leaving the building prior to and during the incident.
“I want to pay particular tribute to the retained fire fighters who put out the blaze early this morning without whom the damage would have been much, much worse.
“I held a meeting with council officers this morning both at their offices and on site to ensure measures are put in place as a matter of urgency to ensure entry to the building is blocked off and that windows and doors that have been damaged are secured.
“I have also escalated this matter to the Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones as well as Joe Robertson MP, asking for support from the police to ensure there is a swift investigation into what appears to be a disgusting criminal act against the good people of Ryde.”
In an update, Cllr Loake said Police are now investigating this as a ‘matter of urgency’ using specialist officers.
More criminal that they left it to rot in the first place, it’s not like it was an asset though is it?
Years it’s been empty and unused!
It’s owned by a father and son through a company registered in Gibraltar. Make them pay to keep the building secure.
Just words, if it was the ‘Much loved’ building it’s reported to be then it would be being used, not neglected for years on end.
“the good people of Ryde”?
Who ARE they?
Loake should start looking closer to home amongst the “Lanyard luvvies” of which there are many in Ryde.
Ryde is full of sites that resemble the east end of London in 1945.
Difference is bombs caused that in London, whereas INDIFFERENCE is the root cause of Rydes problems.
They (Ryde people) bang on about pride, but the only pride you will see is a parade through the streets banging on about pride.
You have summed Ryde up very well.
A dear friend of the family born and bred in Ryde
over 100 years ago said to us over 30 years ago
ryde is a sh*thole.
The late Len wasn’t wrong.
Ryde is full of druggies, drunks and anti-social numpties
who park where the FCUK they like, they have no respect
for others.
I feel sorry for Ryde, gorgeous beach, but that’s about it.
“escalated”? Sent an e-mail, perhaps. Good luck with Ms Jones.
Usually persons committing such crimes are those
on benefits.
Persons who actually pay their way in life don’t carry
out such acts because No.1 they know it is wrong and
No.2 it will cost them more in taxes.
MANY PERSONS ON BENEFITS DON’T GIVE A FLYING FART
THEY KNOW NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IN SOFT TOUCH
BRITAIN, THEY IF CAUGHT THEY WILL RECEIVE A MEASLY FINE
KEEP GETTING THEIR LUCRATIVE BENEFITS AND FREE LIVING
ACCOMMODATION.
Evict such persons and STOP their benefits
WHERE DID LAW AND ORDER GO WRONG IN THE UK
where are your figures and stats for such a large broom your welding?oh I know you can’t see them from the lofty pedestal your fat ar.e is perched on
Thatcher got rid of the borstals and shut the prisons, so instead of the feral brats and scum being in them, they are all around us doing as they like. This shit show bought in namby pamby sentences for the nonces and thieving vermin. But no problem crapping on drivers and pensioners as easy bait
So what are you going to do about the chavs and feral criminal brats that are out of control and doing as they like, committing arson and criminal damage.Introduce curfews and tagging is one solution, build borstals instead of free housing is another. It will never happen will it, all the time the do gooders and hand wringers have any say in it, and ”because of their age B/S”
Everyone knows it was a kid from Ryde called Dylan that did it, he’s about 13 and a prick
Oh that’s the end of that then, can’t do sod all because of the little shits age B/S again, another penitential criminal