It’s been suggested that the Isle of Wight Council may be in advanced discussions with a property developer to sell off the Ventnor Coastal Visitor Centre (VCVC).
A post on the VB Forum last night claimed that staff from the VCVC will be relocated to the Ventnor Botanic Gardens.
We contacted the Isle of Wight Council just after nine this morning and are awaiting their reply. We’ll update this story when we hear back. See statement from IWC below.
Tenants given notice
Our source tells us that the Natural History & Archaeological Society, who are based at the VCVC, have been given notice to leave the building. They also said that enquiries have been made to re-locate the IWC staff who work in the building.
Iconic statement
There’s no denying that the building hold a dominant position in the town.
Some may feel it is an eyesore inherited from the Victorian building boom, but for others it is an iconic statement of the progression during that period which transformed Ventnor from a sleepy cove into a vibrant town and holiday destination.
Many would be concerned about the fate of the building and what may replace it.
A number of residents regularly use the parking at the back of the building overnight due to lack of parking in the area, and the public green space surrounding the building is regularly used by children and dog walkers.
Disposal of property
We’re all aware of the fact that the IWC are keen to dispose of a percentage of their property commitments, so the rumour of a possible sale is not unsurprising.
We’ll start digging and see what other information we can find.
Update: This just in from the IWC
Barry Cooke, Head of Strategic Asset Management at the Isle of Wight Council said: “As part of the council’s accommodation rationalisation programme, all property assets are being reviewed including the Coastal Visitor Centre in Ventnor.
“The purpose of the process is to make sure the council uses its properties as efficiently as possible in order to give best value to residents. However, the property review is an ongoing process and no decision has yet been taken in respect of the visitor centre.
“Any such decision will be taken via the democratic processes of the council. The council is categorically not in discussions with any potential buyer of the site.”
