The Government has announced that Ryde will be 1 of 55 towns nationwide to benefit from £1.1 billion levelling up investment, as part of a long-term plan for towns ‘that have been overlooked and taken for granted.’
The money is intended to be spent on local people’s priorities, like regenerating local high streets and town centres, improving transport and securing public safety, and is the latest step in the government’s plan to deliver on its levelling up agenda, spreading opportunities and prosperity across the country.
The government says the long-term commitment will allow towns to plan for their future – rather than the end of the financial year – and will give local people the opportunity to have their say on where the money will be invested through new ‘Town Boards’.
Announcing the move, the Government has said:
“Under the new approach, local people, not Whitehall-based politicians, will be put in charge, and given the tools to change their town’s long-term future.”
They will:
- Receive a 10-year £20 million endowment-style fund to be spent on local people’s priorities, like regenerating local high streets and town centres or securing public safety.
- Set up a Town Board to bring together community leaders, employers, local authorities, and the local MP, to deliver the Long-Term Plan for their town and put it to local people for consultation.
- Use a suite of regeneration powers to unlock more private sector investment by auctioning empty high street shops, reforming licensing rules on shops and restaurants, and supporting more housing in town centres.”
Island MP Bob Seely said:
“I am delighted that Ryde has been selected as one of the first 55 towns to benefit from the government’s new Long-Term Plan for Towns.
Article continues below this advertisement “This is an important part of this Conservative Government’s plans to share opportunity and prosperity around the country.
“The plan will see Ryde town, supported by myself and others, develop a long-term plan to benefit residents; enhancing the town centre, driving positive change, repurposing shops and tackling crime and anti-social behaviour.
“Clearly, I want more towns on the Island to benefit in due course, so I will be lobbying for funds for Newport, Cowes and the Bay area.
“We have already used some regeneration money in East Cowes to fund a heavy left crane and rebuild of some shipbuilding facilities – creating jobs and opportunities.
“There are a number of options for Ryde and I’ll be working with the community to make sure that we use the money wisely and for the best benefit of the people of Ryde and the wider Island community – all part of getting a better deal for the Island.”
You can read more about the plans on the Government’s website.
Ryde has just had a new bus station and new trains to Shanklin, what more do they need?
You have not been to Ryde lately, obviously. Otherwise you will see for yourself how badly the town needs massive investment. This town is the 1st stop on the Island that most tourists will encounter, given the Cat and Hovercraft. We need investment, not only for the residents, but for our Island wide seasonal income as to promote the island. Quite a few on here are happy to jump on the bandwagon with derogatory comments about the town (im not suggesting yours is derogatory) but fails to see it is not the residents fault that, if long term investment is not secured then a town will always go downhill.
By the time it filters down through the suits there won’t be anything left.
Brown envelopes spring to mind.
By the time the council is finished taking there big bit for there high wages and topping up the councils bank acc and wasting it on stupid dreams there be very little left for that drug haven dump they call Ryde. what about the rest of the dumps like Sandown freshwater. i bet if you go back in 2 years time it will be just the same a drug haven dump. spend it on the hospital do up the run down hotels clean up all the towns get rid of all the bed ridden low life scum
What a dreadful tone you strike. You’ve revealed your ignorance.
This could be a poisoned chalice, do not allow the IOW council anywhere near anything bigger than a piggy bank because you would never see it again..Getting the local people to agree on anything is an unachieveable goal, so who decides, the ryde town council who averaged 200 votes each at the last election, I do not think so.
This will be another talking-shop. By the time they have paid for meeting expenses, public consultations, feasibility studies, environmental studies, and the inevitable award ceremonies to praise the one who attends the most meetings – if there is any money left the scheme will have run out of time.
So that’ll be £20 million on crime and anti-social behaviour then!
Wouldn’t like to see this money subsidising Summer festival events or sunk into old decrepit buildings which the town council has bought.
“Oh it turns out the Tories do care after all”
Pre election bribery.
Does anyone fall for this cynical ploy?
And” seldom seen”will be there to oversee it? Pull the other one Bob thinking about posting the old fashioned Higway posters about The Island with your face on it, no reward offered “just wanted to do the fecking job that those deluded enough to vote for you want you to do!!!.
Works every time. Going to get worse. Tories are stripping this country clean. We’re be in need of aid soon.
Why Ryde? Newport is a ghost town and has far less shops than Ryde
Given that no one in Ryde Town council is remotely qualified to control a fund of £20 million this should be interesting, if the IOW Council get their sticky fingers anywhere near it it will just go up in smoke, i bet all the officials dodgy contractor mates are lining up for a cut, if they decide to paint up a few buildings then that “special” council paint will be used costing £200 a litre.
You forgot to mention the over priced consulants because no one on the island council is qualified enough to make strategic decisions
Newport and Sandown need more help than ryde but at least ryde gets free parking in the shopping areas hence more shops. Newport is dead with more expensive parking than some city’s.
How about funding for a bridge over the medina to ease traffic congestion in to Newport and create growth areas where the new road and bridge is built.
A bridge like the Yarmouth bridge would do.
Oh god help us! If IWC get a sniff of this then it will be ‘invested’ in mainland businesses, a new floaty bridge thing and the remaining £37.50 given to RTC to pay for their tea and biscuits! Who remembers the millions given by Asda and what it was spent on? All told there have been many millions invested here with nothing, absolutely nothing to show for it.. we got a floating bridge that might as well sink for all the good it does, and a lovely new traffic system to replace the perfectly good roundabout that suddenly became superfluous when money was found… how much more can we take I wonder? Where are the cheap, or rental properties, so desperately needed? where is the support for those in need? This will undoubtedly be wasted.. again.
Yay maybe finally a percentage of the dog shit in ryde will be cleaned up. Dog shit town of England. You have to hop scotch just to avoid the shit.
https://youtu.be/K3DcJxL_tlk?feature=shared
Does that mean reduced Council Tax for everyone in Ryde.
So, although it says the “community”, it’s the usual suspects, who clearly aren’t the community. Why can’t the board be other people? Why isn’t it Sandown, living in Ryde, its ok, but poor old Sandown needs electro convulsive therapy. Was there a series of bids? Perhaps these community leaders could elucidate .
I love living in Ryde, there’s loads to enjoy here – and I’m NOT rich with an expensive house that’s out in countryside. I’m guessing a lot of commenters here just enjoy having a lovely moan, or are stuck in front of their large screens all day.
One of the best beaches in the UK is Ryde Beach
So many people don’t realise what is on their doorstep.
Apart from a few druggies, Ryde is a great place.
Folks this is just another conservative “carrot” ahead of the election.. distract the public, please don’t be fooled .. they want you to think it look as if the Connie’s Care .. this is levelling up ? And letting IWC get involved = disaster.. Jordan will organise it to be wasted .. new mayoral car & pendant for a start ..
Who out of this lot will profit. I wonder if having a spouse on the same council doubles your opportunities
https://www.rydetowncouncil.gov.uk/town-council/councillors-details/
I’ll take the £350m a week for NHS from the red bus instead, thank you.
This is a conservative party tactic to ensure the Island remains conservative, 2 million a year for the next 10 years sounds a lot but with the price of labour and materials it will not go far. Cannot understand the comment “overlooked” Ryde, how much was spent on the alterations to the bus station area? Ryde is not the only town that has been overlooked but it has a seat up for grabs along with West Wight possibly in 2024.
Spend the money on making Rydes Roads safe for everyone.
Place traffic calming and Speed Cameras etc on Dangerous Roads
so it is safe for our children.
Don’t just squander it on useless ideas, let the people of
Ryde say how the money is spent.
You could spend 200 million on Ryde and it’ll still be a dump. It’s the people that live there the problem. Nice to see the govt have found a spare 20 mill down the back of the sofa though
What about the rest of the Island?
Let’s hope it gets spent wisely and not given to Ryde Town Council to waste ie Ryde Town Hall The Harbour school in Melville St when they could have taken on the children’s water park at the canoe lake