Steve Butler, Secretary of Ryde and East Wight Trades Council and spokesperson for Isle of Wight TUC has been in touch with an update on the Isle of Wight’s case for Assisted Area Status.
Catherine Bearder, MEP, who gave a talk to Shanklin Town Council last month has confirmed that the Isle of Wight has a strong case for top tier Assisted Area Status from Europe worth £millions to the Island.
MEP to meet Business Minster
Steve says, “This comes on the back of the news from EUROSTAT (European Statistical Office) that with 69% GDP, the Isle of Wight falls well within EU criteria to qualify for funding. After the Isle of Wight Council voted unanimously to pursue funding, it is now incumbent on the leadership and Stuart Love to make the bid for 2014-2020.”
He went on to say that Catherine Bearder is due to meet Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, to promote the case and “wants assurance that the Council has filled in the forms and made the bid”.
Consultation process not started
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight council told OnTheWight, “The Government’s consultation process on AAS has not yet started. When it does we will be making representations about the criteria under which AAS is awarded. For your understanding, AAS is not something you bid for.”
Steve Butler got in touch following IWC’s comment, remarking that Catherine Bearder refers to the the process as a grant bid on her website.
