An independent partnership which earlier this year unveiled a vision to invest £19.5 million of public money in Ryde has again drawn criticism over the future of Ryde Theatre (Ryde Town Hall).
Former Ryde town councillor Simon Cooke has said Ryde Neighbourhood Board (RNB) was looking to “rush through” a “highly contentious” and “complex” purchase of Ryde Town Hall under the cover of an election.
Cooke: Rushed through under cover of an election
told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the involvement of County Hall staff and a board member who is an election candidate and “very publicly associated” with the building is a “very clear breach” of the Isle of Wight Council’s own pre-election rules.
The Isle of Wight Council in response said several points raised will need to be addressed directly by the RNB. The board has been approached for comment, but has yet to respond.
MP calls out ‘politically contentious’ meetings
Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight East MP and a member of the board, told the LDRS there are council candidates on the board who are pushing a “particular agenda” around the future of Ryde Town Hall.
He said RNB should never have proposed to hold “politically contentious” meetings during the local election campaign, and it is right two meetings have been cancelled “late in the day”.
Mr Robertson added however that at least two have already taken place.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said that as accountable body it provided advice to officers supporting RNB. They said,
“RNB subsequently took the decision to postpone the meetings planned for 1st and 7th May.”
Mr Robertson said,
“The board was proposing to make a decision about the council purchasing the Town Hall on behalf of the board during an election campaign.
“The Isle of Wight Council has serious questions to answer for its own role in preparing and supporting these politically contentious meetings using staff who are publicly funded, contrary to the council’s own advice and legal obligations during the sensitive election period.”
Questions over consultants and conflict of interest
Mr Cooke, who is currently a trustee and chair of Ryde Town Hall Trust, said many questions arise from the “undue haste” being taken, where only a “few weeks” were given to commission and complete a mass of reports for required due diligence.
He continued,
“There appears to have been no tendering process or even decisions recorded on appointing consultants, which includes a surveyor who has presented to the board as part of the Ryde Revival group.
“This appears to be a serious conflict of interest.”
Ryde Revival, a Community Interest Company, was previously reported to be in talks to take control of Ryde Town Hall.
Directors Helen Keogan, James Longford and Mark Walker told the Isle of Wight County Press they would receive no financial benefit from the project and that their role is simply to ‘facilitate’ the restoration of the building for community use.
Grade II listed building left in ‘serious dereliction’
Mr Cooke said the Grade II listed landmark has been allowed to fall into a state of “very serious dereliction”.
He told the LDRS,
“It is highly concerning that the board was looking to rush through a highly contentious and complex purchase which could burden the town with multi-million-pound liabilities, under the cover of an election with a decision planned on polling day (7th May 2026).
“The involvement of Isle of Wight Council staff and a board member who is a candidate that is very publicly associated with the building is a very clear breach of the council’s own pre-election rules.
“This yet again raises serious questions over the transparency and governance of the board along with the role of the council as the accountable body.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
