ANGERED by uncertainty over a number of issues, Brading residents gathered in their numbers to quiz town councillors.
Around 100 members of the public packed into Brading Town Hall on Thursday last week — one of the largest ever attendances at a Brading Town Council meeting — to voice their concerns.
One of the main issues surrounded speculation Brading Town Council wanted to take over Brading Town Trust and its assets, including the old and new town hall buildings, plus the car park near St Mary’s Church.
Brading Town Council said up until January 7, it understood the transfer of those assets had been agreed but the trust had withdrawn from the agreement, following a legal rift between the organisations.
But Brading mayor Cllr Lodi Brand denied claims the town council’s intention was to scrap the trust and said the two organisations would meet again this month.
Other concerns related to the town council’s talks with a community interest company about the town’s assets, which will now be discussed at an open meeting with residents, and its interest in the former waxworks building.
But Cllr Marianne Sullivan, who has been involved with Brading Town Council for around 25 years, said the feeling of anger in the town was the worst she had ever known.
"This is the saddest day in all my years involved with this council and we must ensure we communicate better with the residents so it doesn’t happen again," she said.
Reporter: mattw@iwcpmail.co.uk