A chair for the Ryde Town Board has been appointed in what is set to be an exciting period of growth and transformation for the town.
The newly appointed chair, Steven Holbrook, has hit the ground running to establish a new independent Board that will oversee a £20m Levelling Up funded grant from government.
Long-Term Plan for Towns programme
Ryde is one of 75 towns across the UK to benefit from the Government’s new Long-Term Plan for Towns programme. The Chair will act as a champion for Ryde, ensuring the Town Board is community-led and effective at targeting investment which help build a better future for local people.
Independent Board
As the decision-making body responsible for leading the development and delivery of the Ryde’s Long- Term Plan, the Board will work closely with local people to identify and unlock investment priorities across the town.
Establishing a Board that represents the community and businesses of Ryde, covering the broad themes of safety and security; high streets, heritage and regeneration; and transport and connectivity is a crucial part of accessing the funding.
Visit from Programme Director
A visit to mark the appointment was made by the Long-Term Plan for Towns Interim Programme Director, Adam Hawksbee, who met with the new Chair as well as local business owners to get a sense of the opportunities and challenges facing Ryde.
Holbrook: We will be imaginative, with a view to leveraging other funding
Steven Holbrook said,
“I’m excited to be leading on this collaborative project that will not only really make a difference to Ryde, but also the Island. £20million is a hugely significant amount of government money and we will work hard to maximise its impact.
“We will be imaginative, with a view to leveraging other funding and creating legacy projects.
“I’m looking forward to engaging with residents and stakeholders to make the absolute best of this exciting opportunity. This is a great moment in history for Ryde town and it’s residents; but it’s a project that will make it a better place not just for the residents but will also see investment that will bring Islanders to Ryde more often, as well as improving one of our gateway destinations for off-Island visitors.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: Ryde Town Board chair Steven Holbrook meets with Long-Term Plan for Towns Programme Director Adam Hawksbee to discuss opportunities and challenges facing Ryde
