Following the announcement of the closure of the Ventnor Winter Gardens, many people have been busy trying to find ways to save it.
One such group is the Ventnor Winter Gardens Rescue Group (VWGRG).
The VWGRG has been set up by local hotelier, Ann Hutchins (Windsor Carlton in Alexandra Gardens and Secretary of the Ventnor Business Association) and she’s keen to invite as many people as possible, with an interest in saving the venue, to get in touch.
Steering committee formed
The steering committee for the group boasts a number of locally influential business-people, including Bob Ventress (Ingrams builders), John Whitehouse (Chartered Surveyor and Rotary Club), Tony Careless (Partner of Careless and Kemp Solicitors), David Groocock (St Maurs Hotel and former chair of the Isle of Wight Tourism Development Board), John Allen (self-catering accommodation provider and member of the Isle of Wight Tourism Development Board), and Linda Chester (Bizzy Lizzy’s shop and Acting Chair of the Ventnor Business Association).
First meeting decides action
The steering committee met earlier this week for the first time and after much discussion and analysis of the situation, have agreed to do what they can to help save the Winter Gardens for the community.
John Metcalfe, Isle of Wight Council Deputy Director for Economy and Tourism told those at the VTC meeting on Wednesday night (report to follow on VB soon) that the tendering process will begin shortly, with the lease for the venue being advertised locally and nationally at the end of January. He explained that there would then be a five to six week period in which interested parties needed to submit proposals.
Work started on business plan
Given the short deadline, the VWGRG haven’t hung around and have already started work on a business plan.
John Allen from the group told VB, “We are looking towards the success of the Shanklin Theatre Trust and the first instinct is to go down a similar road, with the building becoming a community resource but recognising that it will need to broaden the base of activities.”
Good mix of skills
After the first VWGRG meeting Ann Hutchins said, “We had a very encouraging meeting. It was clear from last week’s town meeting that there is a strong passion in Ventnor to keep the Winter Gardens open. At tonight’s meeting I could start to see how we might be able to achieve that goal – it felt like we had the right mix of skills and enthusiasm around the table.”
If you are interested in becoming involved please contact Anne Hutchins on [email protected], or Linda Chester in Bizzy Lizzy’s in Pier Street Ventnor, if you have not already done so.
Image: lrargerich under CC BY 2.0
