Thanks to Ian Pickard for this latest news from the Friends of Frank James. Ed
The Friends of Frank James have made a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the Isle of Wight Council to release the legal advice given to Cllr Jonathan Bacon in respect of serving an Urgent Works Notice on the owners of the former Frank James Memorial Hospital in Adelaide Grove, East Cowes.
Friend of Frank James, Ian Pickard, explains,
“We were repeatedly told by Cllr Bacon, when he was in charge of Planning, that the IW Council could not serve an Urgent Works Notice on the owners because a planning application had been submitted.
“However following English Heritage’s Stop The Rot presentation, when a number of Heritage experts were on the island, we now believe this is not the case. We have been informed by several parties that there is no legal impediment on the Council serving an Urgent Works Notice whilst a planning application is being considered by the authority.”
Pressure on council to act
Last year The Victorian Society wrote to Head of Planning, Bill Murphy, urging the Council to serve an Urgent Works Notice after it became obvious the owners had no intention of maintaining the building. Earlier this year, the Friends collected nearly 3,000 signatures – many from local East Cowes residents – calling for the same.
Mr Pickard went on to say,
“Whilst regrettably the Council refused to debate the petition we were assured by Cllr Bacon that it would be duly considered.
“That was back in the summer and still this listed building remains open to the elements.
“It’s now time for the Council to stop stalling and take action to ensure it is secured before the onset of winter. Issuing an Urgent Works Notices is what good local authorities across Britain do every day.”
Image: © Joshua Aitkin
