We are always keen to keep the local community informed about the work of the Board – it is after all your Board.
We therefore wanted to share an update with you, and particularly in light of recent community and media interest. We welcome this interest and are keen to continue our business in a fully transparent manner.
We have recently taken on additional resource to help ensure we can maintain positive and meaningful dialogue with the local community. This approach will include regular public forums, consistent communications, inclusive outreach and digital engagement.
We are always keen to hear your views. You can contact us at rydeneighbourhoodboard@iow.gov.uk , or using the contact form on this website, and our Board meeting minutes are available for your reference.
About the Board
As you may be aware Ryde Neighbourhood Board was established and operates according to the rules and regulations of its funder, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and accountable body, the IW Council. It is determined to be wholly transparent and accountable to those it serves – the people of Ryde.
The Board’s initial work has been focused on putting in place the strong governance arrangements required of it by MHCLG and to ensure appropriate use of public funding.
It has also been conducting wide ranging community consultation to listen to what was important to the people of Ryde and to help inform a Vision document, required of it by MHCLG, which would enable it to draw down future funding.
About the vision for Ryde Town
The 10-year Vision for Ryde Town, shaped through community consultation, has now been completed and submitted to MHCLG. Community voices are central to this programme, and we thank everyone who has contributed so far.
Once approved, this Vision will allow around £742k of Pride of Place funding to be accessed for our first year from April comprising: £150k of capacity funding, £360k capital funding and £232k programme delivery funding. Increased amounts of funding will then be available to us each year over the remaining nine-year period.
The document concentrates not necessarily on the actual schemes to be brought forward, but on the type of project requested by the local community through consultation – a dialogue which is very much ongoing. This is important as it provides flexibility for new ideas and priorities that emerge over its 10-year lifespan. It marks a milestone, not an endpoint and the document can evolve as public engagement continues.
The document has not been shared to date, primarily because we were aware that it is still subject to Government approval, however we have now decided on reflection and to be fully transparent that we will publish this early in the New Year by which time we will have also created some supporting materials that will enable this to be more accessible for all.
About Ryde Town Hall
There has been a lot said in the media regarding Ryde Town Hall, and we would like to set out the position of the Board.
It is clear from the wide-ranging community feedback we have received that the future of Ryde Town Hall (RTH) was a matter the community wanted addressed and the Board agreed that the Town Hall was an important long-term project for the future of Ryde.
The Board has agreed that, while it cannot commit directly to the purchase of the building, it would commit to supporting a community group to acquire the building provided certain conditions, ensuring due diligence and due process, are completed by any third party wishing to purchase the building.
It was hoped that this commitment in principle would provide sufficient assurance to the owner to withdraw Ryde Town Hall from the auction in December. It has been indicated to the board that a deposit may be required by the owner as further assurance, but the Board made it clear that funding for any such deposit must come from a third party and at their risk. The Board can only fund feasibility studies and only once the conditions for due diligence have been met.
The Board is clear that an open and transparent selection process must take place. This will be based on a robust business case and the ability of the prospective acquirer to secure the building with appropriate insurances.
Any future financial commitment would need full Board approval, be in line with MHCLG criteria and also be signed off by the Isle of Wight Council as the accountable body.
We are obviously delighted that subsequently Ryde Town Hall was withdrawn from the auction, as this now gives time for future possibilities to be explored.
Looking to the Future
As we move to an exciting new phase of the Pride of Place Programme, the Board remains committed to transparency and accountability.
We promise continued engagement with the community and to keep the town’s residents, businesses and organisations fully informed of progress and we have appointed, following an open tender process, additional resource to work alongside our board member volunteers to help us to achieve that.
The Vision document emphasises the importance of ongoing community involvement and sets out how we will do this through regular public forums, consistent communications, inclusive outreach and digital engagement.
We look forward to continuing our work with you through 2026 and beyond.
