Construction work is currently being undertaken at a clifftop holiday camp on the Isle of Wight – and assurances have been made that it will again become a tourist destination.
An agent for Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp’s developer, Encore Leisure Propco, said the work is needed for the site to “legally and functionally operate” as a holiday destination and for it to become “commercially viable”.
Pollard: Has been no consideration for the use of this site by those seeking asylum
Martin Pollard, the director of the Axis consultancy, dispelled a recent unsubstantiated post on social media that the site could be used to house asylum seekers.
He said,
“Since inheriting the site following the granting of planning permission, Encore Leisure Propco Limited are currently undertaking vital and costly construction work at the Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp.
“This work is necessary to ensure that the site can legally and functionally operate as a holiday resort, but also contributes to it becoming commercially viable as a business that is attractive to holiday users and creates permanent employment for the region.
“To achieve this fully and following positive conversations with both Brighstone and Shorwell parish councils, relatively minor but absolutely vital amendments to the original planning application are required and will be sought in a new planning application.
“In this regard, we are also actively seeking a meeting with the planning and National Landscape officers to see how we can address their specific queries and concerns.
“Finally, to be clear, and contrary to recent comments on social media, as part of that process there has been no consideration for the use of this site by those seeking asylum.”
Application withdrawn
Mr Pollard’s comments come after Encore Leisure Propco withdrew a planning application to develop the site without complying with conditions attached to a previous application.
Axis’s statement submitted as part of the withdrawn application said,
“The site is currently vacant due to the former operator going into administration.
“Nevertheless, its use as a holiday resort is well established with the site almost continuously playing host to holiday accommodation for circa 90 years.
“The applicant, as the new operator of the holiday resort, proposes the Section 73 application to agree the non-compliance of planning conditions related to the 2022 planning consent with the clear aim of improving the attractiveness and functionality of the holiday park, securing its long-term future and viability and the benefits it will bring to the local economy.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
