An Isle of Wight town council voted to keep its “vital” Beach Safety Project using funding from an increase in its precept yesterday evening (Monday).
At a Ventnor Town Council (VTC) meeting at Salisbury Gardens, members opted to retain the Ventnor Beach scheme: a first aid, rescue and advisory service involving volunteers.
Town clerk Katherine Burden said a Council Tax Band D household would see a 2.68 per cent increase to its precept which amounts to an extra 47p per week.
A Budget Decisions Report issued before the meeting said keeping the safety provision would cost VTC’s 2025/26 budget an additional £13,000.
Prior to councillors’ discussion of the project, a member of the public said: “We’re equating human life to monetary value and I find that problematic.
You are going to lose lives if you don’t have people on the beach.”
Ventnor Mayor Steve Cooper said:
“The opinions around the table from councillors and members of the public is that we need to retain the service. I’m happy to approve that because none of us wanted to cut the services.
“We don’t want to cut services full stop, but we have to be fiscally prudent – we have to cut our cloth according to what we’ve got coming in.
“We will have to increase the tax burden.
"I think with a proper communicated rationale as to why we’re doing it, because lives matter and if there’s any chance we’re going to save one life that’s worth doing, if we have a consultation meeting next week with the wider members of our community…that’s probably the most sensible way forward for the community.”
Mr Cooper also raised the possibility of “crowdfunding to secure the provision” or extend it.
Abby Lines, owner of Ventnor Beach’s Blake’s Tea Hut, told the press last week:
“The Beach Safety Team are vital to Ventnor seafront. Not only do they provide first aid, but the work they do to prevent accidents and tragedies in the water are paramount. Throughout the season they advise people of water conditions, both tides and weather safety.
“I’ve seen it day after day, helping holidaymakers who have no clue about the water let alone the dangers of Ventnor’s unpredictable bay.
“It’s absolute madness to remove such a vital asset to the town and will absolutely end in a tragedy. People of Ventnor must fight this.”
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