THE company running Ryde Arena has been condemned by the Isle of Wight Council for its failure to keep the facility open to the community.
The site is owned by the Isle of Wight Council, but has been shut for almost a year following its acquisition by investment company AEW UK and BNY Mellon Trust and Depositary (UK) Ltd. 

Despite pressure from the Isle of Wight community and the council, the building has not been reopened, and has been offered for sale at £3.5 million or a rent at £140,000 a year.
At last night's full council meeting there was unanimous backing for a motion by Ryde member Cllr Wayne Whittle, who is also the council's cabinet member for regeneration and business development.
The motion branded the leaseholders lack of concern for the community as deplorable and ruled out any use or redevelopment of the surrounding site by the companies involved with arena, unless the facility has been re-opened and run inline with the current planning permission for a minimum of five years.
Cllr Whittle said: "I am delighted the council has thrown its support behind this vitally important fight for Ryde Arena, and we will do all we can to ensure it is reopened for its many dedicated and talented users, and for the Island community as a whole. It is our hope to bring ice skating back to the Isle of Wight."
Fellow Ryde member Cllr Michael Lilley: "We have to stand up to this company, and say you shattered our young people's lives and we, as an Island, are not going to stand for this."
The council said any redevelopment of the site would need the assistance of the council as the owner of the land next to the arena.