Ryde Town Council Completes Church Purchase

Sunday, 31 January 2021 06:00

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

One of Ryde's most iconic buildings is now in the ownership of the town council.

It is hoped St Thomas’ Church will "become a focal point of the community".

Ryde Town Council agreed to purchase the building at an extraordinary Full Council meeting in August last year. Contracts were signed and completed this week.

The site will be used by youth service - Network Ryde, which needs the extra space to cope with growing demand.

The service provides young people in and around with a place to go and have fun.

Bex Swan, Network Ryde Youth Services Manager, said:

“This is an incredible opportunity for us at Network Ryde to bring our provision to an even wider audience. We very much look forward to working alongside the young people who will make use of the building being part of the design process and deciding for themselves what is required there.

"We want to build on the legacy that we already have at our current centre, 147, and enhance it, for example to have a confidential room for young people to meet with youth workers and agencies as well as a fully kitted out kitchen so we can cook with the produce from our allotment."

Ryde Town Council says the town's young people will be involved at each stage of the decision-making process to ensure there is a safe, welcoming and inclusive space.

Ryde Mayor, Michael Lilley, said:

“It is great news about Ryde Town Council now owning St Thomas’ Church which is an important part of our town’s heritage. It is even more fantastic that it is going to be used by young people and Ryde’s award-winning youth service Network Ryde. There is a real commitment to bring our neglected community and historic assets back into community ownership and productive use and this is an excellent example.”

For more information about Ryde Town Council you can visit www.rydetowncouncil.org.uk.

For more information about Network Ryde you can visit www.networkryde.co.uk.

Recently Played

(You Drive Me) Crazy

Britney Spears
Download
Airplanes

B.o.b / Hayley Williams
Download
Shivers

Ed Sheeran
Download

Four Men Arrested Following Rogue Trader Activities In East Cowes
Four rogue traders have been arrested following a series of aggressive and fraudulent interactions on the Isle of Wight.
Rugby Players Set To Scale Great Heights For Teddy
The Ward family have a massive personal mountain to climb – Jess and Dan’s son, Teddy, aged just 22 months, has been diagnosed with the life-limiting condition called mitochondrial disease.
Drug Driving, Domestic Abuse And Stalking Among Arrests Made As Police Target Isle Of Wight Criminals
Policing teams across the Isle of Wight have joined together as part of a high visibility proactive effort to tackle Island criminality.
Work Begins On ‘Monumental’ Mural Project At Historic Columbine Building
APRIL marks the beginning of an ambitious artistic endeavour as muralist Alice Malia, along with a team of eight talented local artists, starts the creation of a large-scale mural on the Columbine Building in East Cowes.

Ryde Town Council Completes Church Purchase

Share

More from Isle of Wight News

Recently Played