The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed it is in discussions with the Hayward family to arrange a private, behind-closed-doors meeting about the future of Ryde’s popular splash park.
The update comes after weeks of uncertainty for the family and local campaigners, who have been fighting to secure the long-term future of the much-loved but closed facility.
Designed for young children, the park was opened in memory of Isaac Hayward, who tragically died aged 5 in 2001. It is currently owned by the Isle of Wight Council and was previously leased by the Waterside Community Trust until 2022. It has remained closed for the past 4 years.
In a previous statement, the Isle of Wight Council said it was open to sitting down with campaigners to explore the options moving forward, but the Hayward family said they had not heard anything since.
Now, following an enquiry by Island Echo, the local authority has confirmed that its team has recently been in communication with the family and that talks are underway to confirm a suitable date for a private discussion.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has said:
“The Isle of Wight Council has recently been in communication with the Hayward family. Our team welcomes a meeting to discuss the splash park and share thoughts and ideas with the family.
“Discussions on availability for a private meeting between the Hayward family and Isle of Wight Council officers are taking place.”
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It remains to be seen what the outcome of the talks will be, but campaigners hope it will lead to clarity and reassurance that the splash park can be saved for the benefit of the Ryde community for years to come – either in its current location or elsewhere in Ryde.
The ongoing petition can be found at https://www.change.org/p/save-ryde-splash-park-support-its-refurbishment-and-preservation.
Bloody disgrace this went should of been a lovely place for kids as it was when we were kids ..woke health and safety money council all to blame looks a bloody eyesore now..come to the island for a holiday?? complete dump.
Ryde needs a Cllr like Karl Love, East Cowes
esplanade is much better than Ryde.
The grandchildren love it.
they spend a million a year on taxis for SEND kids – make the parents pay for their kids to go to school, then there will be cash to spend on this.
That is the problem with all government
organisations, they p*ss our money up the
wall and keep increasing our council tax to
pay for their bad judgement.
What is wrong with kids cycling to school, the late
Norman Tebbit would have told them to get on their
bike.
Stand at the gates of St George’s and Medina House and find out what’s wrong with making kids bike to school. Maybe offer to take one with you while you bike round, say, Coppins Bridge at 8.30am?
It’s about time the island laid
cycle lanes islandwide.
Nope, that’s discrimination. Blame lack of dedicated council transport, lack of school places in proximity and the rise of disabilities probably due to environment. Previous governments wanted to open it all up to private enterprise by cutting necessary social services and this is what we’ve got. Not much point cribbing now.