Update at bottom of article – please page down.
Many thanks to Ryde South West Councillor, Brian Harris, who is also Deputy Mayor for Ryde for getting in touch with this important news for residents of Ryde.
Cllr Brian Harris tells us that he understands the Isle of Wight Council is proposing to get rid of the Pell Lane recreation ground in Ryde, by handing it over to the new Ryde Secondary School next year.
According to Brian he stumbled upon the information by chance, when he was reading the school competition notice on the council’s Website.
Councillors kept in the dark?
Quite surprisingly, neither the local county councillors nor Ryde Town Council had any idea that this was planned.
In April, a hastily-arranged meeting in the rec attracted over 30 very local and very angry, residents.
Due to the elections, a further meeting in Ryde Town Hall, to which the Isle of Wight Council had previously agreed, had to be cancelled, but yesterday permission was given to hold a meeting at Ryde High School this week.
If you are interested in what happens to Pell Lane Rec do go along to the meeting which takes place this coming Tuesday, 2nd June, at 6:30 at Ryde High School.
UPDATE: This article was based upon information provided by Cllr Harris. Having researched this matter further, we have been informed by someone who works at the IWC that the land is in fact, owned by the school.
He states that they have allowed public access over the years and have also been responsible for the maintenance of it.
We are not sure how this affects the case, but welcome comments from those involved to clarify the situation.
Full details online
Details can be found on the IWC Website.
Look on pages 1, 5, 6 and 24 of 50.
The school site, as referred to in paragraphs f and g, is the whole of the Ryde High School land, along with the whole of the rec (including the wooded part) [land purchased under the Open Spaces Act 1906], and the playing field off Salter’s Road. [The site for leasing on a temporary basis, paragraphs a and f, is Swanmore school.]
IWC have confirmed that the land, once transferred, will not be coming back into public or council ownership.
Comments should be made in writing to Alex Moffat, County Hall, High Street, Newport, PO30 1UD, or by email to [email protected] , as soon as possible.
