After almost 40 years in business, Eyeland Optical in Newport is being forced to close for good because its owner cannot find another optometrist to take his place.
Proprietor Michael Tye says he has no option other than to leave his successful business in the Spring as his wife requires full time care. This will be yet another blow for the High Street in Newport, which is becoming more like a ghost town every week.
Michael claims he has been attempting to retire for 4 years but has been unable to find another optometrist to take over the thriving business.
Eyeland Optical opened back in November 1985 – some 38 years ago. Originally, it was run as a partnership by Michael and fellow Islander David Swain. However, David retired 3 years ago. David’s son Ben continues to work for the business and is in charge of the glazing lab.
Although the pair have made multiple attempts to sell the business as a going concern, they have been unable to find an optometrist willing to relocate to the Island.
It has been difficult in recent years to find qualified staff to work in opticians, which is said to be the cause of the long waiting lists for eye tests.
so sad he is so lovely
Lack of connectivity?
Thats a bit of a short sighted statement to make…
What a shame. Something is terribly wrong when a successful business can’t find someone to take over. 20 years ago I think people would be more than willing to relocate to this once beautiful Island. But now the younger people in the main and their parents are awful. Swearing aggressive generations of people who don’t even look up from their phones to see the fields and beaches.
And before the defenders of the scum attack me, I grew up in Brixton and Stockwell.. Being rubbish is at the end of the day a choice. There are thankfully a lot of good young here but understandably they want to leave.
Nothing to do with young people, or their families on the Island you nasty, bigoted, old trout.
Everything to do with a lack of opportunity and sh1t schooling for people who might want to move here with their own kids to actually work instead of moving here to retire and bitch about the locals and their kids.
Oh dear, you of the limited vocabulary strikes again.
“Nothing to do with young people, or their families on the Island you nasty, bigoted, old trout”.
Your comment sort of proves Claire’s point doesn’t it…..
Absolutely spot on!
I agree about young people wanting to leave. I did it myself; went to high school here, left when I was 18 to move to Sussex to get my train driving licence, then moved back 6 years ago. Still, with the lack of job opportunities here, I have to commute to the mainland everyday for work. Sadly in that time, I’ve seen island life get considerably worse; lack of education, lack of skills, lack of investment and lack of will.
What has changed is that for young professionals there are now more reasons not to come here than there are to come here. Council is to blame for a lot. Lack of suitable housing, ferry costs are ridiculous, towns are far too busy and over-crowded, education poor, drugs rife.
Claire I lived in Stockwell some 30 years ago and moved to the island to bring up my daughter on the island better place than Stockwell! But the years went on and there wasn’t much jobs for her so she moved off.Need more opportunities for the young! I think the island is looking abit sad now
I have enjoyed many years as a customer (and talking about vintage cars) and it will be a great loss to Newport.
This is my hurry up to get an eye test and new glasses , pronto! Sad news indeed.
There wouldn’t be a lack of connectivity if businesses donated to the fixed link viability study. The hospital has a similar problem getting specialists to work here https://solentfreedomtunnel.co.uk/crowd-funding-for-the-arup-viability-study/
The amount raised after years and the thumbs down point to the fact nobody accepts your pointless campaign and never will. A fixed link will not solve the problem. A proper transport service that works for Islanders and mainland alike is the way forward, Move on Rob.
Absolutely agree, a fixed link would bring lower costs and opportunity for our young people. Tourism would actually benefit
So sad to hear about as we get eyes tested there
We are going to miss you
I’m not 100 per cent convinced by the ‘connectivity’ argument. The world has obviously changed a lot in the past 38 years since the shop opened and you can get your eyes tested in a supermarket, walk away with your prescription and order your glasses online if you want. Perhaps more importantly, they’re competing with the likes of SpecSavers and Vision Express, amongst others. And, I mean, everyone knows the name SpecSavers through their advertising alone.
I’d suggest the lack of a buyer for the business might be more to do with the competition down the road in the centre of town rather than ‘connectivity’? It’s sad when established shops close but they’re competing against some of the big names in the business.
owner cannot find another optometrist to take his place. I will keep a eye out for him.
You cannot bang on about Newport shops dying until the parking is sorted out. I’ve changed my optician from Newport to Lake for that very reason. We all have to push off after two hours, whether we want to or not. I don’t get into town often but, when I do, it’s a sort of mad trolley-dash affair. It would be nice to get a coffee and take a leisurely look around the few good shops we have left, but we get booted out or fined. I for one would visit more often and spend more money if I wasn’t penalised for doing so.