Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely is planning to speak in Ryde this Saturday (27th July) amid excitement over a new Prime Minister with ‘sympathy’ for the Island taking office.
Mr Seely is due to talk to the Ryde Society at the Royal Esplanade on the seafront from 19:00. He is due to speak about growing concerns about a lack of affordable housing on the island, as well as plans to build on greenfield sites, which could damage the landscape and be detrimental to the holiday economy.
Bob is also expected to receive questions about the new Prime Minister. Boris Johnson, who visited the Isle of Wight last month, has pledged to improve funding for the island. Mr Johnson recently said:
“I think it’s right that given what we have, for instance in some of the Scottish Islands, that we should look at doing something like that for people living on the Isle of Wight as well.”
Mr Seely, currently a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, recently stood down from the Parliamentary Environment committee after refusing to back the hugely expensive high-speed HS2 train. He has always campaigned for more money for the Island Line.
On the housing front, Mr Seely has declared that he is worried about the ‘desperation’ of young people on the Island unable to afford somewhere to live. He fears that the young are being driven off the Island by developers charging high prices for private homes. He quotes a recent report.
“Shockingly, during the past three years, less than 100 affordable properties have been built. Our housing waiting list is 3,000.”
Ryde Society chairwoman Stella Davis has said she appreciates that Saturday night may be difficult for some people, but these are difficult times and people need to hear from our elected representatives.
Also tomorrow…. the new Monkton Arts and Lounge Coffee bar at 11 East Street will be officially opened by Ryde Mayor Cllr Michael Lilley at 11:00.
