Island Echo always welcome letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
This letter comes as the next phase of the Ryde Interchange scheme gets underway, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Letter to the editor – 7th July 2022
“The transport hub on Ryde seafront is the largest construction site in several decades, but it’s a total disaster from the start.
Article continues below this advertisement “Temporary toilets were installed which lasted a total of 3 weeks, they are now closed for maintenance and we have no idea when they are going to be reopened! This puts pressure on local businesses to provide facilities.
“BT are now seeking planning permission to move the telephone box to the opposite side of the road to the transport hub, is this a wise decision or just plain stupid? Obviously, a well-thought-out idea that people should go looking for something they may need on the wrong side of the road.
“Then of course we have Southwest rail who still have not submitted planning permission or even a design of what the new station is going to look like to complement all the tax payers money that is being used or perhaps they are going to stick to the 1970s concrete jungle that we have already and maybe give it a lick of paint!!!
“Then of course we now learn that it going to take so much longer for this to be completed, perhaps that is because only six people turn up for work each day, note I say turn up for work.
“Why is it that this is the case, perhaps if island roads hadn’t been given this contract it would get done far quicker. Lots of questions, but the biggest one is who is in charge of this? Whoever it is needs to start answering questions and we the public demand answers not just sit back and allow this to continue in this manner it’s disgusting and not acceptable.”
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Dave
Isle of Wight
I just did a quick google of the shareholders of Island Roads, and its mainly owned by two separate entities (one boiled down into four more, and the other being two i belive), both of which are HQ’d in Paris, and one the dictatorship of Qatar. 😀 Meridiam and Vinci Concessions.so….best of luck.
Yup, the UK has been sold to the highest bidder. Just like Putin did in Russia.
Controversially, if you look into Island Roads were given the contract to renew all the Islands roads, and the money to do it, while Blair was still in power under a PFI. It has taken them them this long to do what they have accomplished so far.
Island roads are unprofessional idiots that have no place here, we are powerless to do anything about it…our council are also not fit for purpose, and we still are powerless to do anything about it, and they know it.
Even voting out a council, they are simply replacing with more of the same..from what ever colour you vote..
if you were waiting for an operation and was frustrated with the NHS, I would understand your chagrin Dave.
but you shouldn’t be losing any sleep over this mate. based on past history of capital projects it is going exactly as one would expect. just adjust your expectations.
Well done in asking these questions, the project is a mess and progress is so slow. But, sadly, I doubt if you will get a reply
Dave.
What you have to remember, and have failed to take into consideration is that the Isle of Wight Council, and their Lackeys, Island Roads are not answerable to anyone!
How very dare you, as a local Council Tax Payer, have the temerity to presume that you have ANY expectation of responsible behaviour from our ‘Lords and Masters’!
Easy. Speak to Cllr Phil Jordan who is in charge of this sort of thing both for IWC and RTC. Admittedly he’s gone a bit quiet since announcing the purchase of Ryde theatre which still hasn’t been purchased but he’s certainly the local bigwig to answer all your questions!
Incidentally, I think a total disaster is a bit harsh. The interchange needs changing so let’s give it the benefit of doubt until it’s done!
NO IT DOES NOT NEED CHANGING !
Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
The one in charge is probably the same guy that ordered the floating bridge !!!
I think it’s terrible!
Calm down, Karen. Just because you haven’t looked up the plans doesn’t mean there isn’t one.
Perhaps if no one is accountable for this it’s time we as islanders called for a vote of no confidence in both the council and our mp and we elect people that have the drive to look out for island issues and that actually care for the island and not there own self importance !
Unfortunately Jane, those people don’t exist. You will never find anyone on the island that will do what is best for the island, only what is best for them.
Just the same if you was in power its not the person, its the position. Every one of you would act accordingly.
With their extended tea breaks and finishing before 4pm the couple of men “working” on the site will never die from over work and what was a reasonably attractive area with a rose garden is now just another place bearing the council trademark, concrete and more concrete, it also looks like we are losing half a traffic lane on an already busy road.
Again stop blabbering if you don’t read up on the plans. Like to see you get up and do something productive. And that don’t include going to get your benefits
Well said
This is nothing like getting a few people round to give you a quote for your extension, any capital expenditure has to go throught the hoops of alleged value for money to the taxpayer, the council way round that is not to put penalty clauses into any contract and then allow unforseeable cost overruns, Councils are not staffed by experts, if they were they would be on double the salary in the private sector, Commercial companies rely on this lack of savvy and friendships amongst the councillers.
How many times do you drive by to see no actual work being done
Exactly, too many people looking down the same hole with another having a cuppa and a smoke on their mobile phone and another keeping the drivers seat warm reading the newspaper
Promoted by the good burghers of Ryde as the ‘Gateway to the Island’ the seafront will always have the pier, the hovercraft terminal, the railway station, the bus terminus and taxi rank (plus a derelict ice rink).
None of those are going to move but every few years funds are raised for a ‘magical transformation’, generally just expensive tinkering, that’s going to bring in hundreds of more visitors, it’s been going on for decades with very little effect or material gain and, while the IW has been getting pretty good national media attention lately, the ‘Gateway to the Island’ is a ‘bomb site’ almost guaranteed to drive visitors away.
Its all about kudos for Councillors,,they were given a bag of money by government with strings attached. So they spend this “free money” with eye watering inefficiency !! On something most residents didn’t want . When all it needed is a paint job and some repairs and improvements ?? And by the way its destined to be under water in 30years time ? Utter madness.
The toilets are not closed for maintenance. They were vandalised by members of the public. Ask Karen Lucioni, one hard-working town councillor.
You lot still have telephone boxes on the Isle of Wight?