By Press Release
The Vectis Party is calling for the Island to reassess its relationship with the government after the Island missed out on £2.1 billion of Levelling Up funding announced this week.
Describing the news as “disappointing but not unexpected”, the local party claimed that the government’s failure to recognise the Island’s funding needs “shines a light on the failed relationship between the Island and Westminster.”
A spokesman said: “In a bidding round where transport infrastructure and tourism regeneration were front and centre the Isle of Wight walked away with nothing.
“No doubt the likes of Bournemouth seafront (£18.2 million) and Morecombe (£50 million) need revitalizing, but so too does the Bay Area, with Sandown in particular in dire need of investment and new transport links with Ventnor key to the town’s long-term prosperity. I also think we could make much better use of £5.1 million than building 20 women’s changing rooms on rugby pitches in Northern Ireland.
“Ultimately, if Westminster is unable to understand and accept our unique situation, perhaps it is time to reassess our relationship with them.”
He added: “We do a lot of work trying to convince Whitehall about the needs of the Island, but they are clearly not listening. Perhaps we should be looking at the opportunities offered by devolution, such as having a directly elected figurehead with real powers as some cities have already and Cornwall has just achieved.”
The Isle of Wight Council had submitted a bid for £14 million to support a new Island Green Link transport route, made up of three sections, a Ryde to Yarmouth public transport corridor, the West Wight Greenway and a Hub and Spokes scheme in Newport. The council was only able to submit a single bid under the transport heading because last year it was awarded £6 million for regeneration in East Cowes.
Cabinet member for regeneration and levelling up, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, said she was very disappointed that the bid failed but she would continue to look for opportunities to bring the Island Green Link into being, either as a whole or in part. She added: “The Island simply does not receive fair funding from the government and I will never give up on trying to achieve that.
“The Levelling Up bidding wars have been described as ‘hunger games for the poor’; perhaps we should rename ourselves District 145!”
Pictured: A scene from the Hunger Games
