During oral answers to the Treasury on ‘Economic Growth: Coastal Areas’ yesterday in parliament, Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner asked the Chancellor whether the Isle of Wight deserves extra support from the Government.
He said,
“Coastal areas face specific challenges because they do not have 360° access to trade with neighbouring areas, and the Isle of Wight faces additional challenges because we have no physical link with the mainland.
“Does my right hon. Friend regard the Isle of Wight as a special case that deserves extra support from the Government?”
Hammond: “Government recognise specific barriers to economic growth”
Philip Hammond, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, replied,
“I know that every single one of my right hon. and hon. Friends will regard his or her own constituency as a special case, but I can tell my hon. Friend that the Government recognise the specific barriers to economic growth experienced by coastal areas such as the Isle of Wight.
“That is why we are extending the coastal communities fund by at least a further £90 million across the United Kingdom over the current Parliament.
“In addition, as my hon. Friend will know, through the Solent growth deal the Isle of Wight has benefited from nearly £15 million of investment to expand the skills base, support business growth and improve transport links.”
Where the £15m is being spent
A spokesperson for Solent LEP advised,
Through our existing Solent Growth Deal settlement the Solent LEP is investing £14.9m to support skills, business growth and transport links on the island at the following projects:
- £3.7m investment in a new floating bridge which is a critical transport link at Cowes
- £10.9m to build CECAMM – a new specialist centre for engineering centre, offering specialised education and training for around 600 students, based in Whippingham, in partnership with the Isle of Wight College and Island employers
- £300,000 funding to Natural Enterprise to operate a business support grant programme targeting rural SME businesses across the Island
Construction is currently underway on the floating bridge and CECAMM projects and the Isle of Wight Rural SME Fund is open now for new applications.
Solent Devolution
The leader of the Isle of Wight council, Jonathan Bacon, has reported ongoing discussions with the government for some time.
When the minister responsible at the time, Greg Clarke, visited the Isle of Wight earlier this year, he told those at the meeting that the Solent Devolution Deal was the only way the Island would receive more money.
Source: They Work For You
