“There is a neglect, dereliction problem in this town and it needs to be taken seriously,” an Isle of Wight town councillor said on Monday.
Sandown Town Council (STC)’s Councillor Leon Girling accused County Hall of not “prioritising need” in the town.
Landmark Neglect Case report
His comments came ahead of STC’s votes to adopt, and continue to improve and refine, a landmark draft report presenting a ‘compelling case for urgent and sustained regeneration in Sandown’.
STC also agreed to ‘lobby the Isle of Wight Council and other bodies’.
The Neglect Case report says the town ‘faces a crisis of neglect, with widespread dereliction, economic fragility, and social deprivation’.
Girling: Money not prioritised in the right way
Addressing attendees at Sandown’s Broadway Centre, Councillor Girling said,
“This kind of document has never been produced here before – I’ve only sat here for around two and a half months, and I’ve pulled it together.
“It’s been really lacking and missing to date… as Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight council officers, Isle of Wight councillors, you don’t prioritise your money in the right way.”
He added the town’s dereliction problem had not been treated seriously “for 20 years”.
Andre: Nervous it will create an expectation that we can’t deliver
However, Sandown county and town councillor Debbie Andre voiced concern over “raising expectations we can’t deliver”.
She told the meeting,
“There’s some good stuff in here but I’m a little bit nervous that it will create an expectation that we can’t deliver.
“I fully appreciate that you say this is a vehicle, a tool for getting funding in but as Ian (Ward) and I know, that is very difficult to achieve.”
She suggested a further piece of work was possibly needed to “assess priorities of the art of the possible at this stage”.
“The town has been consistently overlooked in strategic planning and funding decisions”
The report voted on Monday night says,
“Despite clear evidence of need, the town has been consistently overlooked in strategic planning and funding decisions at both local and national levels.
“The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of Sandown’s current condition, the systemic issues contributing to its decline, and the community-led solutions that are ready for implementation.
“It aims to refocus the attention of decision-makers and funding bodies on Sandown’s urgent needs and untapped potential.”
Isle of Wight Council has been contacted for a comment.
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
