Enforcement action is being taken against the owners of a former Isle of Wight doctors’ surgery after the building was left abandoned and overgrown for years.
The former East Cowes Health Centre, on York Avenue, has been closed for over a decade, as a new surgery opened up closer to the centre of town.
Down House was sold by the NHS to a private owner, but nothing has been done with the building despite getting planning permission in 2013 to turn it into houses.
Active enforcement case
In recent weeks, residents of the town have noticed work to make the site more tidy have taken place including cutting back some of the greenery.
The Isle of Wight council has confirmed it has an enforcement case on the site to try to ‘remedy its current appearance’ and is trying to contact the landowner but has so far not received a reply.
Site up for sale
The council has said it understands the site is for sale and the clearance works are ‘likely to be’ related to that.
The former practice has previously been on the market, with the possibility of renting the site for £25,000 a year.
There were calls last year, from local councillor Karl Love, for the site to be tided up.
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
