A steering group has been formally established to represent community interests and explore future options for the Ventnor Winter Gardens.
This follows the building’s recently confirmed status as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) and news that its current owner has informed Isle of Wight Council of his intention to sell.
Under ACV legislation, this notification automatically triggers a 6-month period during which a community-backed bid may be explored. No price has been disclosed, and no sales details have yet been released by an agent, meaning the process will be challenging. Nonetheless, the steering group believes now is the moment to act, if there is a possibility to influence the outcome.
A spokesperson has said:
“The ACV provides a unique opportunity — but it is time-limited. We are approaching this openly and constructively, and we want to hear from any parties who may be interested in forming a viable, community-focused bid”.
The Steering Group was formed by local volunteers following one of the two very well attended community meetings held in the Ventnor council building. They are:
Steve Witheyman, Stephen Izatt, Daniel Ruiz, Roger Watson, Richard Ferraro, Jim and Steph Toogood
They will be reporting back to community meetings to be organised in the new year. None have a vested interest in any bids that may result from the process. They have volunteered to do what they can to ensure the outcome is best for the community in the long term.
Sentiment within the community was that the Winter Gardens has not meaningfully served the interests of local people for some time. A view echoed widely in the news and social media channels. Nor has it offered the range of events, arts and cultural activity that could draw visitors to Ventnor throughout the year.
Since its formation, the steering group has met twice to understand the ACV process in detail and to map out possible next steps. Its remit is to:
- Investigate what a community backed bid could look like
- Identify individuals, organisations or consortia who may wish to bid
- Encourage transparency from all parties
- Explore community led and commercial partnership models
- Assess bids against criteria intended to deliver a long term solution, with real community value
Given that the 6-month ACV period is now underway, the steering group recognises it’s not possible to construct a bid relying solely on donations and public funding. Instead, it is seeking expressions of interest from individuals, groups or organisations who may wish to develop proposals for purchase, management, cultural programming, and partnership models.
“the Winter Gardens has not meaningfully served the interests of local people for some time.”
That is because it has been for 30+ years, is now and will continue to be, totally unsafe.
That is why it was sold to Sussmilch for £1.
Instead of making the building safe to use, he “organised” a bunch of students from the College to “patch it up” as that was cheap and it would have cost £700,000+ to repair properly and undoubtedly more than that now.
This “steering group” should disband immediately and stop getting embroiled in something that is well past its sell by date. This is not 1950! There IS no money tree.
Knock it down its done no one is going to put money into it..
Your name is most appropriate
So a steering group with lofty ideals but no money seek to influence the outcome of a private sale supposedly for the benefit of the island community.Firstly, they need to find a seven figure sum to buy it and undoubtedly a similar sum to bring it safely back to life, then what, perennial cap in hand bids to raise funds to keep it open, which ultimately means the council taking it on and we know they cannot make anything but a loss on any commercial enterprise they are involved in.
You clearly know nothing about how modern creative projects work and have nothing positive to offer (just opinions and ill-informed comments about the council being involved – which will never happen) so stay in your little Bembridge hole
When you resprt to personal sniping it is obvious your arguement has failed before it has started. Have you actually read the criteria set up by the sterring group for this project, it is just a jumble of words that mean nothing and say less, the community allegedly has not been served by the winter gardens for some time, try decades. you accuse me of being negative, many would say realistic, As for a modern creative project, do you mean felt making for the over 40’s, bead making, yoga for the over 90’s or do you hope to turn this into a theatre which even in the west end with renowned acts all lose money.
You say jumble of words – well, you would certainly know about those. If bead making is your idea of creativity then you are seriously wanting and no doubt you know nothing of Arts Council and Lottery funding
Jim amd Steph Toogood’s do what’s best for them and in their interest not the communities