VentnorBlog has been contacted by concerned supporters of the Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG) who feel that the Isle of Wight council (IWC) has once again shifted the goal posts on their subsidies of the VBG.
After VB broke the news about the future of the VBG being under review back in August, it was widely understood that the IWC subsidy to the Garden (£250,000) was due to be reduced by 30% in April 2011 and fully ceased by 2012.
Rumour of cut in funding
A number of people contacted VB alleging that IWC has now changed their position, bringing the date drastically forward, stating that ‘all funding’ is to be cut by July 2011.
This is very different to the phased reduction in funding, which many, including Royal Hotel proprietor William Bailey, already felt was way too fast.
Unless the council have already secured someone to take over the running of the VBG, we suspect this change of funding will have a dramatic effect on the future of the Garden.
We’ve written to the council to ask for confirmation of the news and hope to receive a swift reply.
Update 2.12.2010:
George Brown, IW Council cabinet member for the economy, tourism, leisure, planning and property, said: “No decision will be made on the future management of Ventnor Botanic Garden until after the cabinet meeting.
“Furthermore, as cabinet member responsible for this area, I am well aware that any changes to the way the garden is managed and funded will have to be implemented realistically to ensure we achieve our aim of helping the garden to flourish at no cost to the local taxpayer.
“To speculate the council is trying to do this hastily and in advance of the stated democratic process is not only false but entirely unhelpful.”
Image: Matt Denton under CC BY 2.0
