Ryde Town Council members have overwhelmingly voted to agree to take on a three-year lease with an option to buy Ryde Town Hall and theatre.

Ryde Council has agreed to spend up to £5,000 on immediate safety and security of the building and repairs and to prevent water ingress.

It will also insure the building, as part of the overall agreement.

The landmark building has been empty since 2013, after it was sold to a private developer by the Isle of Wight Council.

After that, work to restore it ground to a halt.

Ryde Council has already commissioned a business case by the East Hampshire Regeneration Team, and has appointed a bid writer to apply for available grants.

Talking after the meeting Councillor Phil Jordan, Chair of Acquisitions and Finance said: “I have spent 18 months in serious discussions with the current owner and together we have agreed a bold way forward for the future of the building. 

"The three year lease period at a peppercorn rent gives Ryde Town Council the time needed to try and put into place the serious grant funding needed to restore the building whilst at the same time actually buy the Town Hall when the moment is right.”Last year,

Ryde Town Council applied for a Lottery Heritage grant funding bid for £7m, but was unsuccessful.

It was told one of the reasons why the bid failed was because it did not own the building.

Mayor of Ryde, Cllr Michael Lilley added:

“It’s important for our town and community that we do all we can to preserve our heritage and historic buildings and this latest agreement safeguards the future of another important building in Ryde. 

"Ryde Town Council is fast becoming a can-do council and I am delighted we continue to serve the community and our town in a very positive and proactive way.”

Built in 1830 and restored after a fire in 1933, the Town Hall has seen many uses over the years but is perhaps more widely remembered  in recent history for the theatre and the famous acts that have appeared there alongside the Islands home grown bands.

Ryde Town Council is creating a ‘Friends of Ryde Theatre’ group which will engage, help and assist in the overall project of restoring the theatre.

Cllr Phil Jordan said: “There is tremendous community support and I have been contacted by many people already who have experience, enthusiasm and knowledge about theatres and historic buildings and I’m sure, given time, we can restore this building to its former glory.  I look forward to the next chapter in its history with pride and enthusiasm.”            

The Town Hall agreement follows on from Ryde Council’s other recent moves to acquire Ryde Harbour, St Thomas’s church, Vectis Hall, £1m of High Street improvements over four years to Ryde town centre and provide the government Kickstarter scheme for Ryde with 30+ job opportunities for the young people of Ryde.