RYDE Town Council has offered to buy Ryde Harbour from the Isle of Wight Council — for £1.

Following the announcement of the proposed sale of the harbour, currently a publicly owned asset, the town council has stepped in with an offer to take it over.

In a statement released yesterday (December 4), Ryde Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Ross said: "The town council hopes that the Isle of Wight Council will listen to the strongly voiced views of the Ryde community before any decisions are taken about Ryde Harbour."

At a packed meeting on Monday evening, Ryde Town Council members expressed profound concerns about the Isle of Wight Council’s proposal to dispose of Ryde Harbour.

Both councillors and residents also expressed concerns about the proposed decision being taken under delegated powers by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for resources, Cllr Stuart Hutchinson.

Following a proposal from Cllr Michael Lilley, ward member for Ryde East, the town council agreed to make the following representation to Cllr Hutchinson, in response to the contents of the delegated report, before he is due to take his decision.

"Ryde Town Council objects to the recommendations contained in the Delegated Decision Report in regard to Ryde Harbour and asks that the cabinet member for resources attends a public meeting in Ryde to discuss alternative options with the Ryde community within the next two weeks, which should include the option of the Isle of Wight Council selling the harbour to Ryde Town Council for a pound."

It is hoped that a public meeting will be called within the next two weeks.