LETTERS

From Jim Moody, Ryde:

Many individuals are busy ensuring Ryde’s past is not forgotten.

Historic Ryde and the Ryde Social Heritage Group have been stalwart in bringing history, including social history, to life.

Volunteers and artists have been restoring Victoria Arcade on Union Street. Other work has made Ryde Cemetery cherished and nurtured, a benefit to everyone.

And many older premises on Ryde’s commercial streets have been utilised without compromising their historic significance.

But it pains me to have to complain about the neglect of some of our larger buildings in Ryde.

Where is the official concern about prominent structures in the centre of town? I have spoken to many about this problem and Ryde residents are not satisfied with things as they are.

There is concern about St Thomas’s Church, which the IW Council does not want and nor does Ryde Town Council. Although under-utilised, exhibitions and other events have been staged there.

But most concern centres around three buildings.

First there is Ryde Theatre in Lind Street; owned through an offshore Gibraltar company, it stands empty and forlorn when it should be a beautiful asset. Such promise when it was sold off but now look at it. At least its clock could be made to run.

Second, much more dilapidated and rundown is the Grade-II listed Royal York Hotel on George Street, an art deco wonder in its heyday. This magnificent building has gone to wrack and ruin. Planning permission expired seven months ago. What happens now?

And third, there is the Grade II listed Vectis Hall in nearby Melville Street, which many Islanders will recall hosted meetings and important events. It is even more decrepit than the Royal York Hotel.

It seems to me stakeholders must get together and repair these eyesores, and in short order if we are to retain our pride in Ryde.

Voluntary bodies have shown the way at the cemetery and arcade. ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ need to be watchwords for Ryde and IW councils.

I fear local councils may fail to deal properly with these old buildings as well as several derelict sites around Ryde. I hope instead of resurrecting the idea of selling off our open spaces to speculative builders — such as was suggested for the recreation ground near Ryde Academy — we can instead develop and enhance what our forbears built.