A new riverside restaurant could be coming to an Isle of Wight mental health and wellbeing centre as part of a scheme to give the site a ‘multi-faceted’ use.
Vicki Haworth, on behalf of the Isorropia Foundation, has put forward plans to the council for a restaurant and a shop selling ‘wellness products’ at the Medina Valley Centre on Newport’s Dodnor Lane, next to River Medina.
At the end of last year, the Island-based non-profit received £1 million from the government’s Community Ownership Fund to purchase and redevelop the centre.
A Design and Access Statement written by consultants ERMC on behalf of the Isorruopia Foundation said:
“The Medina Valley Centre was previously a training facility owned by a charity, providing environmental and outdoor education. Isorropia are presently still utilising it for training.
“They provide 12-week programmes of psychoeducational workshops as well as social activities to Island residents, focusing on improving Island residents’ general wellbeing.
“Isorropia… need to generate some additional income streams and to do that they require the site to be multi-faceted. In addition to the workshops, they would like to convert the dining area to a restaurant and run a small shop selling wellness products for its members.
“They would also like to lease out a portion of the previous sleeping accommodation (now offices/consultation rooms) and apartment (existing treatment rooms) to other health care providers.”
ERMC added the converted dining space would be used by staff, Isorropia members, cyclists and walkers during the day and as a restaurant open to the public in the evening.
Visiting the site earlier this year, Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson said:
“It was a pleasure to meet with the Isorropia Foundation team and learn about their vision for the Medina Valley Centre.
“Isorropia does incredible work supporting people across the Isle of Wight with mental health and wellbeing, and I am proud to have supported their bid for funding.
“The investment will make a real difference in enhancing the services they provide.”
In December, Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley welcomed the Community Ownership Fund’s grant as “great news” for “those involved in the project and for Islanders who will benefit from it”.
County Hall’s public consultation on the application will finish on April 29 and a decision is expected on June 24.
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