Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young, visited the Isle of Wight today (Thursday 16 May) to learn more about how government investment is spreading wealth and opportunities across the Isle of Wight.
The Minister met Mr Seely in London and they travelled together by train to begin the visit in Ryde.
Members of Ryde Town Board were on hand to greet the MPs and take the minister for a guided walk along Ryde Esplanade to the Canoe Lake to hear about the Town Board's future plans and opportunities for investment.
The minister then continued on to East Cowes to visit the Marine Hub which included a tour of Albany Barracks, Wight Shipyard and the surrounding area to see how levelling up money was benefitting the town.
Mr Seely said: "The government is investing millions of pounds into the Isle of Wight so it was great to show the minister where that investment is being spent and to talk him through the opportunities it is already creating.
"In Ryde we were able to talk through plans for the £20 million allocated through the Towns Fund and in East Cowes we were able to show the minister how the £5.8 million from the Levelling Up Fund is helping to improve facilities in the Marine Hub which has already created more jobs and secured the future of shipbuilding in the town."
The Minister, Mr Seely and the IW Council Chief Executive then discussed the most recent levelling up bid and possible work in relation to the A3055 at Leeson Road, the Undercliff and the Military Road.
Levelling Up Minister, Jacob Young MP, said; "I have loved visiting the Isle of Wight and I’m grateful to Bob Seely MP and Cllr Joe Robertson for inviting me. Together, they are working to get a better deal for the Island and to help us to level up.
“In East Cowes, we are delivering levelling up in action, creating new job opportunities for Islanders and supporting the growth of key manufacturing industries like Aluminium Ship Building.
“And in Ryde, we’re investing £20 million over the next ten years through our long-term plan for towns. I’m looking forward to seeing the community’s ideas for how this money should be used, from tackling antisocial behaviour to improving the town centre, helping to level up in Ryde.”
