Ryde Town Council has made a day out at the beach much more fun — as the Isle of Wight Council approves part of its latest business venture.
Permission has been granted to temporarily site a shipping container next to the harbour master’s office to house a hire business.
Along with 250-plus deckchairs and sun loungers, the town council will also hire out parasols, windbreaks, kayaks and paddleboards for people to enjoy and make the most of the beach.
Bridges: Great news for the town
Allan Bridges, business development manager for Ryde Town Council, said it is great news for the town this summer and it is set to open fully for the start of the school summer holidays — or hopefully before, depending on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Covid restriction announcements later today (Monday).
Mr Bridges said,
“It is part of our ongoing concerted drive to improve Ryde for businesses, residents and visitors and to create a real buzz about the whole town.”
Ideas for expansion
It is intended to grow the venture further along the seafront towards Appley next year, Mr Bridges said.
The steel storage container will be clad in vertical cedar boarding to help blend in with the surrounding area and be there for no more than five years before a more permanent solution can be agreed, once the harbour is transferred to Ryde Town Council.
Important amenity
Planning documents, submitted by the town council, say,
“The Isle of Wight Council has been offering the deckchair franchise [on] Ryde beach for some time without success.
“The town council felt it was an important amenity for Ryde so decided to take [on] the franchise themselves.”
One objection
One objector to the plans said it failed to consider the impact on the Ryde Conservation Area.
However, in approving the application, Isle of Wight Council planning officers said there was a public benefit from the proposed development, improving facilities for visitors to the beach, which would outweigh any temporary small scale level of harm.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
