Ryde Ice Rink Plans Back On The Table Amid Council Interest

Multi-million-pound plans to redevelop the Isle of Wight’s former ice rink may be brought before Ryde Town Council (RTC) for discussion.

Ryde Appley and Elmfield representative Michael Lilley asked RTC on Tuesday evening (May 12) if it can make contact with the prospective buyers of Ryde Arena.

A group has set out proposals to bring leisure facilities to the currently derelict building, which is on the verge of being sold to them.

Cllr Lilley said:

“Ryde Arena is extremely important; it’s been an eyesore for a lot of years on the seafront.

"We’ve now, through the press, been told there is a proposal.

“Is it possible that as a council we can make contact with the people who are developing so that they can come and talk to this forum…to speak about it?

“It would be good to have the relevant officer with the Isle of Wight Council dealing with that now.

"Obviously, there’s a change of leadership in the council at the moment.

“It is important for us – I think the relevant officer would be Alex Minns – that we do have involvement about what is happening.”

Newly elected Ryde mayor Karen Lucioni said RTC clerk Lisa Dyer will make contact with Mr Minns, service director for community, regeneration and economy at County Hall.

Cllr Pippa Hayward said she ‘wholeheartedly’ supported Cllr Lilley’s comments and added it was ‘really important’ as much as possible that the town council looks at bringing coherence to the seafront.

Ryde Arena closed in 2016.

Its freehold is owned by the Isle of Wight Council but, since 2014, the lease has been in the hands of AEW.

Cllr Lilley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):

“I am the chair of a small charity, Ryde Community Development Trust (RCDT) (formerly Wight Ice Leisure which was established out of the Ryde Arena Campaign Group).

“The ice rink was extremely important to Ryde and RCDT has a principal aim of seeing the arena preferably back as an ice rink but if that cannot be achieved then at least a sport and leisure centre.

“There is a new Ryde forum of local sports groups and there is a real need for an indoor sports arena, and we are keen to work with the new owners.

“Ryde needs a thriving esplanade and not an eyesore of an empty building, so Ryde Town Council needs to get behind this proposal.”