RYDE Town Council has decided to look into buying the town's harbour.

At a packed meeting of the town council this evening (Monday), members unanimously agreed to explore ways it could buy the harbour from the Isle of Wight Council.

They also agreed to invite senior council officers and councillors from the Isle of Wight Council along to the town for a public meeting where options for the future of the harbour could be discussed.

As previously reported in the County Press, Ryde Harbour could be sold or rented out and Ventnor Haven run by a third party under the latest Isle of Wight Council proposals.

The authority claims both harbours will require investment of £1.2 million and will lose £515,000 over the next ten years.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Wayne Whittle, the Isle of Wight Council's cabinet member for regeneration and business development, said the town council was in a position to raise its precept which potentially could be used for the capital works at the harbour and that the money could be paid back over a number of years.

However, the town council would have to come up with a business plan and a time frame for completing the works.