Sandown Community Association protestors outside court

Ocean Hotel: Appeal against Isle of Wight council order to tidy up Sandown eyesore goes to court

A date has been set for the appeal by the owners of the derelict Ocean Hotel against an order to tidy up the Sandown eyesore.

In February, the Isle of Wight Council served owner Phoenix Commercial Property Development (PCPD), with an official notice to clean up the building.

In recent years the hotel has stood empty and become the target of vandals and arson attacks, with a blaze in May last year worsening its condition.

IWC: Building’s appearance significantly harms Sandown
The council say the building’s appearance significantly harms Sandown.

The notice meant PCPD had two months, until 11th May, to comply with 13 actions which included removing vegetation, cleaning windows and removing steel supports from the former entrance canopy fronting the Esplanade.

Ocean Hotel by Isle of Wight Council
© Isle of Wight Council

Enforcement notice appealed
The owners appealed the notice however, pausing the process, with the case coming before Isle of Wight Magistrates today (Friday, 20th May).

PCPD argue the condition of the land does not adversely affect the council’s own land; the requirements of the notice exceed what is necessary for preventing the condition of the land from adversely affecting the council’s land and the time period given in the notice to take action ‘falls short of what should reasonably be allowed’.

Final hearing – 3rd August
No one was present to represent the Ocean Hotel in court.

The matter will now go to a final hearing on 3rd August, should PCPD not wish to vary the date.

Ocean Hotel / King's Head © Sandown Hub
© Sandown Hub

Outside the court protestors from Sandown Community Association gathered, calling for action from the owners in tidying the space up.

Lightfoot: Nothing has happened despite assurances
Sandown mayor, Cllr Paddy Lightfoot, joined protestors and said despite assurance from the new owners that they would tidy up the site after taking it over from the Carlauren Group, nothing had happened.

He said,

“The basis of the appeal that it is not affecting the amenity of the surrounding land which is beyond belief.

“Sandown residents and business owners and hospitality businesses face yet another summer of enduring this mess.”

Jones-Evans: A distressing view for locals and visitors
The Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans was among the group and said the enforcement team had worked hard to ensure PCPD obeyed the law.

She said with the hotel being in such a prominent space on the seafront, it was a distressing view for locals and visitors and it is important to have it safe, renovated and made useful again.

Ocean Hotel fire
© Jane Cresdee of Sandown Hub and Our Sandown

Police called for site to be secured
Recently Hampshire Constabulary joined the council, calling for the site to be secured by serving a Community Protection Notice Warning (CPNW).

It is hoped the CPNW will secure the location in the short term while the council’s action will secure a long-term solution.

By 10th June, the owners will have to install CCTV, board up every access point and erect a secure perimeter fence around the site.


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

Advertisement
Subscribe
Email updates?
4 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Guy Eades
20, May 2022 10:19 pm

At present anyone can enter the site and building and do so. It is being wrecked and dismantled day by day either by these persons or because it is open to the elements. The current owners do not care which is contradictory to what most property owners normally feel about their property. They are the real vandals. They would rather it collapsed or was destroyed. The legal… Read more »

planespeaker
21, May 2022 9:04 am

The council should Compulsory Purchase the site, submit plans for apartments or hotel (they unlikely to refuse their own plans) and then sell the site with planning permission to a reputable and serious developer with conditions attached, and make a huge profit.
Hurrah!

Guy Eades
21, May 2022 9:35 am

Yes I agree. The Ocean building is a Heritage site – Charles Darwin and Lewis Carroll wrote their works there in the C19th and the hotel has hosted visitors for 150 years. It is an amazing site with views out to sea. Instead of building large out of town housing estates – with no services of schools, GPS, shops etc the large old town centre hotel buildings… Read more »

sjw1
22, May 2022 9:05 am

There are some really good ideas in the comments. Sounds like a community led housing project just waiting to happen!

reCaptcha Error: grecaptcha is not defined