A banner calling for the Isle of Wight Council to stop the Ryde Interchange development has been taken down by the local town council.
Removed yesterday (Wednesday), the banner said ‘save our garden and public toilet’ and asked for those who agreed to contact the Island’s MP, Bob Seely, the cabinet member in charge of the interchange project, Cllr Phil Jordan, and Ryde councillor, John MacLagan.
Ryde Town Council however says it removed the banner for safety reasons.
Reacting to the removal, Cathy Foulkes, head of the campaign to save the public open space and amenities, said it was done so by Ryde Town Council, in its ‘eagerness to hide what is to be lost by our community’.
The banner was put on the public toilets at Western Gardens, next to the cafe, that are both set to be bulldozed under the proposals to improve connectivity in the area.
The signage was installed on the building around the same time Ms Foulkes’s petition, which sought to put the scheme through planning, was rejected by the Isle of Wight Council.
More than 2,500 people signed the petition and it was backed by five councillors, although 26 voted against it.
Speaking at the meeting where councillors voted down the petition, Cllr Vanessa Churchman called the schme sheer vandalism to destroy the area.
She said she had never had a problem with traffic in the area and could not see any need for altering the road layout.
Justifying the removal of the banner, Ryde Town Council said staff took it down as its placement breached many regulations.
It said planning permission was needed from the local authority to display a banner of that size, as well as permission of the building’s owner.
The toilets are leased by Ryde Town Council who said no permission had been sought from them.
A spokesperson for the town council said:
“As the banner was sited on an exposed site, we have to consider our obligation to ensure our buildings are safe for public use.
“As we are unsure who erected the banner and the methods they used to secure it, the decision was made to remove it.”
The next step for the Ryde Interchange project will be for the Isle of Wight Council cabinet to approve the scheme at its meeting next week.
No coincidence imo that whittle left the main council, more fingers in pies than Georgy Porgy.
Whilst people leave the scene, thus then appearing not so influential, the right connections remain firmly intact.
Why waste £10,000,000.00 in the current climate.
Use this £10 million against the new increased council tax increases that are coming next year.
Rather than increase people’s council taxes in difficult times, use the money you are wasting on the Ryde Interchange.
The Interchange can be done in a few years time when the economy picks up.
Correct me if I am wrong,
But this money comes from central government as in a grant to be spent on a specific project, and if you don’t use it, you will lose it, and also any future grants as you have refused to spend the first amount of cash on the said project.
Myself personally would tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine.
Don’t fix it, if it ain’t broke !
What a pathetic council, ‘Ryde first’ lmfao
What was unsafe about it? This scheme is a complete waste of money. All it needs is the building being given a good clean and a new coat of paint.
Surely there isn’t anyone who still believes that the people who make the decisions that affect us all, would ever take any notice of people objecting to their plans? It wouldn’t make any difference if the whole of Ryde objected. Once they’ve made up their measly minds and decided on their plan of action, nothing is going to stop them and anyone who tries to stand in their way better watch out. It needs a clean sweep and a completely different agenda from those who put our environment first.
Why do people vote these councillors in then? It’s the responsibility of all voters to ensure that councillors who don’t and won’t listen don’t get in these positions.
Because they are bare faced lie’rs.
This Council is intent on forcing Islanders and working people off the Island with highest council tax, ferry prices . Spending millions on road layouts that make little difference to traffic flow -St George’s, new cars at County Hall etc , this winter older people will die due to heating and fuel costs, food banks will give a record amount of food parcels etc yet let’s spend millions on stuff that has nothing to do with the health and wellbeing of most the Island residents
Even though I don’t agree with what is being proposed, it seems a done deal , so to speak, this development of the interchange is going to be steamrollered through despite objections,
I agree with some of the other comments below, yes look to change existing layout with a view to improve, but when the economy has recovered and do with public consultation.
This council are a bunch of crooks. Overpaid chimps tea party is coming soon to a town near you.