Concerns about how Isle of Wight taxpayers’ money would be spent have temporarily silenced plans for a town crier in Ventnor.
Instead of making a final decision on Monday (15th August), Ventnor Town Council (VTC) will now ask residents if they think ‘oyez, oyez, oyez’ should ring through the town.
Councillor John Watkins put the idea forward, saying town criers were big crowd drawers. He argued it would be beneficial to have 1 to make weekly community announcements and suggested holding a competition to fill the voluntary, honorary position.
Though unpaid, the proposal was for the Council to pay for the crier’s uniform but Cllr Watkins said he had been unable to find out how exactly how much that would cost, only receiving rough estimates.
A report prepared for the meeting said it could be up to £200, but Cllr Watkins told fellow Councillors it could instead be £2,000 for high-quality garments. He said there were cheaper options, but then it would ‘look cheap’ and £200 would be ‘unrealistic’.
Cllr Dave Logan said he would have been comfortable with a spend of £200 but £2,000 was rather different, and it would be worth finding out how much the Council would be willing to spend.
Cllr Phil Warren suggested consulting residents to see if Ventnorians would actually like to have a town crier.
He said:
“Maybe residents don’t want a town crier, particularly if they feel there is a cost involved and that investment could be better made elsewhere.”
Mayor Steve Cooper said he thought it would be a fantastic idea and could see a lot of uses for a town crier, but recognised the importance of residents’ feedback. Cllr Cooper said the matter would be discussed at a later meeting.
There are currently no town criers on the Island.
“There are currently no town criers on the Island.”
I think that’s your answer Ventnor.
Just go down the local fancy dress shop, they will sort you out,
“Cllr Phil Warren suggested consulting residents to see if Ventnorians would actually like to have a town crier.”
Wow, a councillor who actually thinks it is a good idea to consult residents. Whatever next?
£2000 ridiculous, spend it on something that will benefit the whole community not just one person. Old fashioned, not needed and a waste of two grand.
A radical idea would be to have one Island crier (in Island colours) who could represent all towns, and do the rounds.
Each town council could chip in to fund and even the Island council could contribute.
Could even make it a tourist attraction/show.
Some of these old traditions can be made fun and translate to the 21st century.
Get corporate sponsorship so we don’t even have to pay for it. That is the obvious solution.
Cllr Dave Logan said he would have been comfortable with a spend of £200 but £2,000 was rather different
council didn’t worry about the cost to the taxpayer about housing 252 ukrainians or letting dinghy people move here though.
Expensive garments for an optional town crier or providing housing for families who are absolutely desperate and have nothing, how can anyone with any compassion find that a difficult choice?
Why are you so full of hatred? Are you racist? Are you scared? ‘Dinghy people’? Seriously? Hope you don’t find your self in such a situation where the roles are reversed. Do you have the emotional or intellectual capacity to look past the labels you are projecting and to consider the well being of another human? Suggestion: Just try to be a kinder person. Just try it today and see how it goes..
Should we treat everyone who breaks the law like that then? or are you just being selective?
There were criers in two previous places on the island, so borrow one of those outfits.
Fill the foodbank up instead. People are starving
What so Mr and Mrs Fat will turn up in the 4×4 to fill bags with free food, no thanks. If there were checks made, like the signing on card and proof of low income then yes, but not damn holibobs down for a week and using the foodbanks, seen it happen so don’t tell me it’s not true.
More nonsense will be along soon
The Internet is the modern town crier.
What do you need a town crier for? Plenty of smack heads and feral brats gobbing off could do the job, and there would even be night shift!
Instead of coming up with fanciful ideas put the money towards something useful, like CCTV in central car park to stop the vandalism of the new toilets!