Ryde Town Council has agreed, in principle, to purchase the former NatWest bank for £426,000. Although plans are still being finalised, it is hoped that the acquisition will enable the Town Council to have new, accessible offices alongside rentable interview rooms and meeting rooms for local organisations. The former bank would also boast new accessible toilets, as well as a community information centre and a genuine hub for community groups. There is the potential for event space also. It’s said that the decision to purchase the prominent town centre building is part of the next stage in developing a strategy for the Council to lead on projects that will continue to benefit the town. The building is located in the heart of Ryde Town at St Thomas’ Square, where Lind Street meets the High Street. Historically, the site was a grand theatre until it was destroyed by a raging fire. 
“The NatWest building offers an opportunity to put the community right at the heart of Ryde. By purchasing the building, Ryde Town Council will be able to provide the type of Community Hub that residents deserve – something that the current rented offices in Lind Street do not allow. “The current council chambers in Lind Street have provided excellent office space for Ryde Town Council, but the aspirations of our councillors are to be right at the centre of the development of Ryde for residents, businesses and visitors meaning that a more suitable, accessible home would be of enormous benefit.”
As with any building, the purchase is subject to a successful structural survey which is set to be carried out later this week. The purchase is to be funded through the Public Works Loan Board which allows Town and Parish Councils to borrow money for appropriate assets at preferential rates. Ryde Town Clerk Lisa Dyer says:
“With the Government announcing £20 million of Town Board Funding for Ryde, it is envisaged that the majority – if not all – of the project will be funded through this investment. However, it is vital to note that this is an important step for both Ryde Town Council and the town of Ryde in and of itself. The Council believes that this is a necessary, prudent move that will have genuine benefits for the community.”
In recent years Ryde Town Council has come under fire for purchasing buildings at significant cost to the taxpayer. 
They haven’t sorted out St Thomas’s, the hall in melville Street,or the town hall yet so why get another property?? !!!!!
So the government has given £20 million of Town Board Funding to Ryde and the council want to spend it on giving themselves some cosy new offices. Hardly a shock. They haven’t the wit or desire to improve the lives of people in Ryde by spending £20 million on something that would benefit lots of people. They are just a bunch of selfish stupid sh*thouses. £20 million is a lot of money and could be spent on something amazing. But no they just want some new offices. The “interview rooms”, staff room, office space and all the other designated room show that this is just council offices and not a “community hub”. Nobody wants or needs a community hub. Stop wasting our money!
Just click on the link and make loads of objections via the form.
Shortest consultation form ever. Two yes/no questions. Clear they’re not really interested in ideas or opinions.
Yet another community hub. We seem to have plenty already with St Thomas’s joining them soon and poor old Vectis Hall now waiting at the back of the queue. At least we should be grateful that they didn’t buy the Town Hall money pit.
This council need to sacked ASAP, they don’t need to buy the ex,bank.It seems to me they spend money on the buildings they don’t want
You can sack them by voting for new councilors,
Why is the Council spending our money on yet another building that we do not need, and why have the community not been informed or approached in the spending of this amount of money that will no doubt help those in more need
They won’t be happy until they own all of Ryde.
As the W.E.F say, you will own nothing and be happy.
Lol
What is it with councils and bearded hipsters calling everything a ‘hub’ these days?
Oh it’s a community hub. No, it’s a cafe.
Oh it’s a community hub. No, it’s where you can do yoga.
Etcetera.
Oh what joy,another hideously ugly piece of brutalist 60s/70’s ‘architecture’ gets a lifeline (instead of a wrecking ball) while truly magnificent structures in Ryde such as the town hall and st marys convent are left to rot away? Another brilliant triumph.
In another post they were moaning they had no money! So where is it coming from!!!
Theresa, the source of the money is closer than you think, it is your pocket, I.E the taxpayer money tree.
Read the article Theresa.
The Government.
Ryde Town Council has agreed, in principle, to purchase the former NatWest bank for £426,000.
the council had better not complain about being short of cash, after such a waste like this.
The Government, who gave the grant, place restrictions on how it can be spent.
On the bright side, we will get some vandal proof toilets.
Throwing yet MORE money on needy Ne’er-do-wells.
Judging from these comments, nobody wants more community hubs or to be paying off a loan forever more. So don’t do it RTC. Most people are tightening their belts. Listen.
Last minute consultation because they know most people don’t want it. Selfish purchase.
So the online questionnaire lets one person submit an unlimited number of responses. Bit suspicious.
Yes so submit loads of objections via the online form.
How can it be worth nearly half a million Pounds?
I’m pretty sure that the Council are the only party interested in purchasing it, given the number of other empty buildings around.
It’s a buyer’s market, especially when you’re the only potential buyer.
And, how much on top of the sale price will it cost to fit it out?
But, of course, it’s the Council we’re talking about, and they don’t have to worry because it’s not their money.
To misquote the man “every time I hear the word Hub, I reach for my gun”. I get the council offices bit, but what does HUB actually mean. In practice it seems to be a building you hand over to a charity/CIC run by one of your mates for them to play around with. This is know as Involving The Community……apparently !
Agree.I’m with old HG whenever the word ‘mindfuless’ is trotted out.Where’s that Luger ?
Wonderful building but NO parking ️
We can’t all walk you know
Could we at least have disabled parking ️
Why don’t councils stop interfering in businesses, something they don’t understand with their cushy no risk jobs with over generous pensions. businesses will sort themselves out with what’s best for them without the council wasting money on whey they think is needed. Trying to justify their actions with pie in the sky theory.
Okay ladies, slow down, theres enough mocha frappalappacinos to go round at starbucks (Yes, I know the article doean’t mention a female driver, but it would be thoroughly indecent of me to make the assumption of a male driver being involved when statistics show that only a small fraction of crashes are caused by males, and would simply not represent the broad picture)
“when statistics show”
of course, you do realise that 93% of statistics are just made up,.. don’t you ??
Lovely witty tongue in cheek exchange, gents. I’m assuming you are blokes as all the empirical evidence and stats of course show that women have no sense of humour .
Quite embarrassing that you’re unable to see the big green limousine.
Drive it like you stole it. Nice one sweet. My damage rating 6 out of10 .More soon please probably tomorrow.
Possibly because the give way sign used to be on Leeds St ?
Sunday drivers used to be the elderly going out for a quiet genteel tour of the Island, now just a lottery if you come back unscathed with yobs driving two inches from your exhaust pipe, pushing you to break the speed limit or have an accident.
Time will make it all so much worse.
Bloody buses! I navigate the roads of Sandown on a daily basis and have always found the bus route down Melville street and Fitzroy street to be ridiculous. Station avenue is straight and interjects these roads, and would be a much better and safer option. Two bus stops on Melville street too and get stuck behind bus at both of them because they can’t drive!
So why don’t you do your training, obtain your CPC, get your D license and show them how it’s done?
Due to the thick B’stards responsible for Road safety on the Island
There are 2 bus stops in Melville Street
opposite both bus stops vehicles are allowed to park.
A Council with brains would place either double yellow or red lines
so idiots do not park opposite the bus stops.
One day there will be a collision due to the unsafe
conditions
The island as a lot to learn about road safety!
No wonder car insurance is gone through the roof with all these idiot drivers about
Well done to the old people that’s lots of good driving’s
seems to be a slight prang from the looks of things…
Probably difficult to see the bus
Yea how can you Not see a bus and a give way junction for gods sake LOOK it’s not hard
These damn buses needs to be bigger and brighter,very difficult to see
Get your mushrooms out & swing them about.
The towing away business is certainly thriving on this island.
To be fair, buses are hard to see..
Dangerous junction, Parked vehicles restrict visibility pulling out of Leed Street. If give way signs/road markings were put on Fitzroy Street this situation would not happen. A simple solution.
Another old driver off the road thank god
Whats up bean, not your turn to use your families only brain cell
I don’t know if this was one of the old doddery short sighted drivers, or one of the younger aggressive ones that always rely on someone else giving way, if it is serves them right.