A campaign to save the Coastal Centre in Salisbury Gardens, Ventnor from being sold off by the Isle of Wight council was launched tonight.
The following statement was issued by mayor of Ventnor, Steve Stubbings and town clerk, David Bartlett. In their own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council’s leadership is determined to sell this unique community resource to the highest bidder; Ventnor Town Council is fighting to retain it as a hub for the town’s future life.
Have your say
Ventnor Town Council wants every Ventnor resident to be able to have their say on this major issue for the town’s future through a unique consultation programme launched at a meeting of over 80 members of the town’s voluntary sector on Wednesday 30 January.
That will be followed by the delivery to all Ventnor’s more than 3,500 households of a Briefing Paper with details of the actions of both Councils.
It contains a reply paid post card to register support for the Town Council’s campaign to retain the building as a centre for the town’s services along with attractive and resourced spaces for business start-ups.
Leave your comments and sign the petition
Anyone wanting to comment in more detail is invited to use the Consultation area of our web site or to email or write to the Town Clerk.
Town Councillors are also organising a Petition for residents and visitors to sign and a blank copy of it will be downloadable from the website for supporters to use.
An ‘Asset of Community Value’
Ventnor Town Council has nominated Salisbury Gardens for inclusion in the Isle of Wight Council’s List of Assets of Community Value. The case for Ventnor to retain it rests on the following:
- Salisbury Gardens has been a feature of the town’s life for 140 years;
- Ventnor Urban District Council bought it in 1945 and remains the only Council to have actually paid for it;
- Ventnor Town Council has a clear and costed Business Plan for it to make a major contribution to the town’s economic regeneration;
- it is the natural base for the town’s other civic services about to be, or at risk of being, moved from their existing buildings: the Library, the Youth Service, the Police and NHS services;
- the town has recently lost to private ownership its other two iconic attractions – the Winter Gardens and the Botanic Gardens – handed over by the Isle of Wight Council for the sum of £1 each.
The briefing document is embedded below for your convenience. It’s well worth a read, there’s some fascinating facts within it.
