The council announced at the end of last week that they’d chosen a preferred bidder to take over the Ventnor Botanic Garden. The formal decision on the future of the Garden will taken by joint cabinet member delegated decision in the spring. Ed
Council officers will now enter into detailed negotiations to formalise the bidder’s ambitious plans to maintain and improve the garden under a 125-year lease arrangement.
Ian Anderson Isle of Wight Council director for community wellbeing and social care, said: “The preferred bidders are an Island-based couple John and Mylene Curtis who wish to secure the site for the community and are supported by the nation’s leading horticultural taxonomist, long associated with the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew.”
Develop as a Centre of Excellence
He went on to say, “They have been able to demonstrate that they would continue to develop the garden as a centre of botanic excellence, scientific importance and a tourist destination with an international reputation.
“They also committed to develop the garden as a successful enterprise for the community with profits reinvested to sustain the garden and retain its reputation for botanic excellence.
“The preferred bidders propose taking a 125-year lease of the garden. Negotiations will start immediately, with the aim of the preferred bidders taking on the garden in April 2012 after a period of ‘shadowing’ the council’s management of the site.”
Chosen from two formal bids
The winning bid – under which staff would transfer to the new operator – was chosen following a period in which expressions of interest were invited and two formal bids were received.
The bids were studied by council officers, staff from the garden, Ventnor Botanic Friends’ Society, Isle of Wight Council members, Ventnor town councillors and representatives of Ventnor’s business community.
High standard of bids
Mr Anderson, said: “Both bids were of a very high standard and the preferred bidder’s commitment to sustaining the garden as a centre of excellence gave us the confidence to enter into detailed negotiations to secure the long-term future of the garden.
“We would like to thank all the bidders for their hard work and dedication to the garden over the past year, through their support for the Advisory Board. We sincerely hope that those involved in the unsuccessful bid will continue to want to be involved in support for the gardens.”
Mr Curtis said: “We look forward to working with the council, the Friends, the staff and every one interested in Ventnor Botanic Garden.”
