Efforts are underway by East Wight MP, Joe Robertson, to secure future ‘place-based’ funding opportunities for Sandown following a visit by representatives from the Lloyds Bank Foundation.
The visit, organised by the MP, brought together local businesses, councillors and community leaders at the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary to discuss some of the town’s long-standing social and economic challenges.
Topics raised during the meeting included dereliction, deprivation and limited opportunities for young people in the Bay area.
The Lloyds Bank Foundation, an independent charity established by Lloyds Bank, has previously been involved in supporting areas benefiting from the Government’s ‘Pride in Place’ funding programme.
The organisation is now exploring opportunities to extend similar place-based support to up to 100 towns across England that are not currently part of formal Pride in Place funding schemes.
Mr Robertson said he had approached the Foundation earlier this year to make the case for Sandown, leading to last week’s visit.
Joe Robertson, MP for East Wight, has said:
“I was pleased to bring Danielle from the Lloyds Bank Foundation to Sandown, to introduce her to local leaders like Lawrence Bates from the Bay Business Association; Alex Rennie, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner; and Ian Boyd from the Common Space; and to show her around the Bay area.
“The Foundation have a strong background in working with left behind towns with strong local leadership so that is why I wanted to make some personal introductions with people who could one day form part of a ‘Neighbourhood Board’.
“Sandown is too often left behind when it comes to national support which is first and foremost about money, but it is also about time, tools and connections.”
Mr Robertson added that while Ryde is set to benefit from £20million of Government funding announced in October 2023, Sandown also faces significant challenges which he believes should attract additional support.
Mayor of Sandown, Alex Lightfoot, has said:
“My thanks to Joe for arranging the meeting, we had a wide range of stakeholders including our new Isle of Wight Councillors.
“There was a lot of consensus around the room on the issues Sandown is facing, and a need to make sure we are ready for any opportunities that arise.
“Joe’s focus on Sandown as an area in particular need of additional help is very much appreciated.”
Joe Robertson is expected to develop a formal proposal ahead of a follow-up meeting planned for later this summer.
Nearly everyone I speak to in the course of the day have very good and feasible ideas on how to help restore Sandown. How is it that the councilers and officials don’t seem to have any ideas?
One idea seems to be to not refuse conversation of unused high street properties into presentable dwellings as clearly no one can afford to open commercial ventures as long as the councils don’t offer start up programmes.