David Pugh attended the Ventnor Town Council Meeting last night and councillors were given an opportunity to ask questions of the leader of the Isle of Wight Council.
Although there was a very low turnout of members of the public, many of the Councillors took the chance to question Mr Pugh on several issues.
Ward Councillor for St Lawrence, Buster Bartlett, made a sincere and passionate plea to the Leader of the Council in relation to the lack of action taken against the several youth who were found responsible for the mindless vandalism caused to Ventnor Middle School over the Christmas holidays.
In response to Cllr Bartlett’s address (see below), the leader of the Council stated that this sort of vandalism “needs to be stamped on” and that the youth responsible “should have what’s coming to them.”
He agreed to take the matter back to the Police officers and see what could be done.
Cllr Bartlett’s Statement
Stemming from the action taken over the vandalising of IT equipment, smashed windows and general damage at a cost of £40,000, I now raise the question – what action can be taken to re-open the investigation?
I and many others are appalled at the current lack of action taken by the officers (presumably the Police) who seem content enough to have found the individuals responsible for the damage and seem to be taking no further action over this criminal vandalism.
The questions and phone calls I have received over these officers actions all raise the same queries. I believe if I read briefly what a person in Freshwater wrote in the County Press and the follow up article by a very experienced long standing reports Mr Keith Newberry, which all were printed in the CP on 5th September.
I personally question why no action was taken over such a criminal offence at a cost to all island community charge payers which apparently gave so much pleasure to the five arrested offenders.
There Mr Pugh, what action will or can be taken by the County Council to ease the concern of Island residents.
We’ll be keeping an eye on this one to see whether anything materialises.
Image: Courtesy of Debby Robinson
