Ryde Town Council has confirmed that they have finalised the takeover of Ryde Harbour from the Isle of Wight Council.
The re-named Ryde Marina will be undergoing a sustained programme of changes to give it a much-needed facelift. This has started with the replacement of the existing Harbour Office with a new, temporary Marina Office and will see new pontoons being laid out along with electricity, Wi-Fi, CCTV, a new website and booking system, as well as the refurbishment of the Hospitality Suite.
The longer-term business plan calls for a relocation of the Marina Office and incorporated Hospitality Suite with an increase in the number of visitor berths to capitalise on the shorter-term visitors who will be encouraged
Michael Lilley, Mayor of Ryde, has said:
“When the opportunity to purchase Ryde Harbour was presented to councillors, we knew it was one that was too good to be ignored. Ryde Town Council are dedicated to improving the facilities of Ryde and this is a wonderful example of leading from the front. It is a huge project for us and one that we are very excited by. The investment in Ryde is very real and I look forward to all of the new facilities coming online.”
Lisa Dyer, Ryde Town Council Clerk, adds:
“We, along with officers at the Isle of Wight Council, have worked incredibly hard behind the scenes over the last two years to make this vision a reality. It is a terrific demonstration of two organisations working in partnership to achieve a successful outcome.”
Jake Babington, Ryde Town Council’s Beachfront Operations Manager, has said:
“This is an exciting time for Ryde Esplanade with so many positive changes happening this year. We hope that Ryde Marina will soon become a shining example of what can be achieved here by the sea. We have lots of improvement plans for the Marina so why not pop down and ask us or see for yourself?”
One hopes this will mean the harbour is manned at all times, for Ryde has a huge yob problem.
We berthed in the harbour some years ago and could’nt wait to leave, as we were left alone with them all night.
My children, wife and I cowered down below (in a 20 footer only sitting headroom), listening to shouting and swearing, as stones and rubbish were hurled into the water nearby..
Be a great little harbour if had a set of locks to keep water in and sand/silt out, plus passage to the actual water !! But it is a good start, hopefully make it look a lot nicer than it has !!
So how much is this going to cost the residents of Ryde in the increase of precept
Are the fees the users of the marina going to cover its running costs or are the non boat owning residents of Ryde going to have to subsidise their hobby.
its lost money ever since it was built. One of the many follies of Medina Borough Council wasting the money from the right to buy council houses sales.
You can make a silk purse out of a sows ear ,,, as the saying goes
Good luck, i hope it goes well and actually makes a profit.
And who is paying for all this