Ryde’s Waterside Community Trust was awarded £7,500 towards the cost of an electric all-terrain vehicle (e-ATV) in 2024 from Wightlink’s Green Innovation Fund. It will be used every day in the summer to respond to emergencies and transport equipment between the beaches in Ryde and Sandown. Replacing a petrol vehicle, the e-ATV will reduce carbon emissions and noise pollution on the beach.

The Waterside Community Trust runs activities such as a summer beach lifeguard service and a pioneering drowning-prevention programme, as well as all-year-round training, delivering lifeguard and first aid courses across the Island and the South Coast. It also manages Waterside pool, a 25-metre lido next to Ryde beach.

The charity will also be fitting PV solar panels to its pool and hall along with an efficient heat exchange unit, which will cut fuel bills.

Trust Beach Manager Todd Miller said: “We are elated to have obtained the grant from Wightlink to purchase the new all electric vehicle for the Beach Lifeguard Service. The new e-ATV will be used to tow our beach wheelchairs, an inshore rescue boat and other equipment, perform patrols and much more in both Ryde and Sandown, while helping us to reduce our carbon emissions and looking after the amazing Island we live on.”