Ryde Town Council is being urged to take a more active role in supporting local businesses and tackling the growing number of empty shops in the town centre, with calls for closer collaboration to help revitalise the high street.
The issue was raised during Tuesday evening’s meeting of Ryde Town Council by a member of the public, Paul Wyatt, who questioned whether enough was being done to support the town’s business community.
Mr Wyatt said other town and parish councils on the Isle of Wight, including Newport and Carisbrooke, Bembridge and Cowes, work closely with local businesses by producing promotional leaflets, maps and other initiatives.
Earlier this year, he voiced concerns about the increasing number of vacant commercial premises in Ryde and suggested establishing a panel to better understand the challenges businesses are facing. At the time, he said the town needed a “vibrant centre”, capable of attracting new businesses while supporting those already established.
Addressing councillors this week, Mr Wyatt said he had recently met with Zoe Thompson from the We Love Ryde business initiative, which is backed by the Ryde Neighbourhood Board (RNB).
He asked councillors:
“You said that the Ryde Neighbourhood Board stepped in and they’ve come up with some money. Is that all we’re prepared to do, or are you prepared to let them take on the hot potato and deal with it?”
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Mr Wyatt said there was considerable scope for improved marketing of the town and argued Ryde Town Council should play a more active role through both councillors and council officers.
Referring to the council’s Place Plan Committee, he added:
“You have a committee for your Place Plan which states very clearly that actions and improvements to the town’s public realm and green spaces are going to be looked at. That’s a good thing.
“I’m sure all our councillors will agree that business and hospitality are vital for a town and residents.”
Responding, Ryde Mayor Councillor Karen Lucioni said she sits on the Ryde Neighbourhood Board and would arrange a meeting with Ms Thompson to discuss how the Town Council could support the We Love Ryde initiative.
Councillor Ian Stephens agreed it was “a very good idea” for the council to back Ms Thompson and the wider business community.
Councillor Pippa Hayward also highlighted the importance of developing a clear long-term plan for Ryde alongside the Ryde Neighbourhood Board and the Isle of Wight Council.
She said:
“I think the business community is a fundamental part of that, along with youth and various other spaces.”
The only way you will hell local businesses is to allow
longer FREE parking in Union Street 1 Hour is not long enough.
I would visit many coffee shops in Ryde some are very nice
BUT 1 HOUR IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO DO SO.
I have seen 1 vehicle that parks ALL DAY ALONG UNION STREET
OBVIOUSLY THEY ARE EXEMPT FROM THE 1 HOUR RULE
PERK OF THEM OWNING A BUSINESS I SUPPOSE
BUT THEY ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS BY DOING SO.
If all businesses done the same there would be no parking for
customers.
Two things people don’t want to do in life.
No.1 pay to park
No.2 pay to use toilets
THAT IS WHY WE PAY NEARLY £3,000.00 PER YEAR
COUNCIL TAX.
Too be honest many businesses don’t help themselves
on the island.
It is the school holidays and so many businesses don’t
open on Monday’s, some businesses in Shanklin along the
esplanade are closed a few days of the week.
The new Blueberrys cafe closes a few days a week and many stop doing food early.
Also take the fish and chip shop along Sandown High Street closes at 2pm and re-opens at 5pm
It never used to be like this.
Obviously many businesses don’t need the money otherwise they would open all day and every day during the school holidays.
Since the pandemic people have become lazy.
The real problem is they are not providing a good services for holiday makers.
That is why I holiday in Blackpool, places are open, they appreciate
the business and charge much less than the island for food and drink.
I had Fish and chips in a pub last night in Shanklin
£21.95 it’s a joke.
I can go to Grimsby and pay £3.50 for better Fish and chips
Couldn’t agree with you more re businesses that seem to operate at their convenience and not that of the customer/tourists even at peak season, even with the incentive of increased profits. My way or the highway. Couldn’t believe it when first moved here. Still find it shocking.
Majority of locals are lazy Caulkheads all they want is to
sit on the beach or at the boozer.
When all the Premier shops etc opened on the island
it provides us with excellent opening hours.
They are real grafters not shirkers.
We need more of these great people opening
gift shops, coffee shops and fish and chip shops.
They provide a real decent service at decent prices.
stop stealing money off owners in the form of business rates, cut business taxes further and cut the BS red tape – that should be a good starting point
The South will be funding the North soon.
With RTC record of losses, with taxpayers money. I can’t imagine how they will be able to help. We certainly don’t need any more outrageous precept rises.
An hour, as long enough to look around a load of charity shops,
Have you seen how many charity shops there are in Ryde.
An hour, as long enough to look around a load of charity shops, maybe reduce the rent rate at a shop might help???
Hold on, Ryde isn’t as bad to look at as Shanklin and Sandown! They’re so ugly especially sling the sea front! Cultural award my goodness, why !?!?
where’s all this culture then? Load of rubbish! Won over other seaside towns in the UK! How?
Ryde has a beautiful beach and the town looks far nicer than other places, yes it’s charity shops and some are empty but honestly, I’d rather be in holiday in Ryde than the other s holes!!
Ryde does have a much better beach and the shops are
much better.
After all Ryde is the Gateway to the Island.
Let me guess. Are we about to have a bigger influx of vape shops and barber shops. My money says yes we are
Only numpties Vape, yet so many do.
The idea of Vapes were to get smokers off of cigarettes
instead many do both and persons who have never
smoked including children, now Vape.
Supporting local businesses is about much more than marketing. We also need to make it exciting—and realistic—for ordinary people to start and run independent businesses. Behind every shop is someone who has taken a risk. If we want vibrant town centres, we need to make enterprise something worth celebrating and supporting
Instead of asking “How do we fill empty shops?” maybe we should ask, “What would make someone tell friends to visit Ryde next weekend?” People don’t just travel to shop anymore—they travel for experiences, atmosphere and discovery. Give people a reason to fall in love with a town, and the businesses have a much better chance of thriving. That’s a more interesting conversation to have.
Ryde shouldn’t try to become another cloned shopping destination. It should become one of Britain’s most interesting seaside towns to explore. Surprise people. Inspire curiosity. Celebrate local businesses. Create experiences people can’t get online. When a town has a story worth telling, visitors will become its best ambassadors.
On Sunday there was a bit of a do on along the
seafront and there was a vehicle with a coffee machine
in the back selling drinks.
£5 for a latte was a bit too much.
Tesco fuel station Costa coffee with a sarnie and a chocolate
bar only £3.85
“Every little helps”
So Tesco got the business
£5 ofr a coffee is taking the p*ss. I don’t pay that to sit in
a coffee shop.
Many people have become greedy since the pandemic, their
greed will be their own demise.