Ryde Town Council (RTC) will this evening (Tuesday) receive a talk on proposals for the Isle of Wight’s ‘eyesore’ former ice rink from the building’s prospective new owners.
Councillors are to be given an opportunity to ask questions on plans for Ryde Arena, which closed in 2016 and has a freehold owned by the Isle of Wight Council.
It comes 2 weeks after Ryde, Appley and Elmfield representative, Michael Lilley, asked RTC if it could contact the prospective buyers of the seafront structure, stressing the importance of the local council’s involvement in what is happening.
A group has proposed to bring leisure facilities to the building, which Cllr Lilley has described as ‘extremely important’.
Cllr Lilley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“Ryde Arena is extremely important; it’s been an eyesore for a lot of years on the seafront.
“We’ve now, through the press, been told there is a proposal.
“Is it possible that as a council we can make contact with the people who are developing so that they can come and talk to this forum…to speak about it?
Article continues below this advertisement “There is a new Ryde forum of local sports groups and there is a real need for an indoor sports arena, and we are keen to work with the new owners.
“Ryde needs a thriving esplanade and not an eyesore of an empty building, so Ryde Town Council needs to get behind this proposal.”
The meeting is at 7pm at 11 St Thomas’s Square, Ryde.
It will be good to see it back in use. Without extra costs on the already expensive Ryde Council tax precept.
Too be honest what has it got to do with Ryde Town Council
LET THE NEW OWNERS DO WHAT THEH WANT, ANYTHING
IS BETTER THAN THE CURRENT EYESORE!
Maybe Ryde Town Council could spend more time
addressing the speeding problem in Ryde, not to mention
the smell of Weed in Ryde and all the numpties parking on
Double Yellow Lines
Take a drive down Park Road in Ryde
ILLEGAL PARKING IS RIFE