Action is still to be taken to spruce up a Sandown eyesore hotel with the Isle of Wight Council saying it is disappointed with the owners, who have failed to tidy up the Esplanade site.
Earlier this month, the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court threw out the appeal of Phoenix Commercial Property Developments (PCPD), the owners of the Ocean Hotel on Sandown Esplanade and High Street. It was fighting an enforcement notice issued to it by the Isle of Wight Council, arguing the requirements were too much and the condition of the land did not adversely affect the council’s land.
A lack of communication from PCPD resulted in the appeal being dismissed before a full trial could take place.
Reacting to the positive result, a council spokesperson said they were, of course, pleased with the outcome but remained disappointed that, to date, the landowner has failed to take action. They have also failed, the council said, to engage with the council or the local community on this matter.
The owners now have until 15th November to complete every clean-up action required by the Isle of Wight Council, but until 15th September to comply with 13 of the 15 actions included in the Section 215 notice.
The council spokesperson said the situation would be monitored and a compliance check undertaken after the November deadline when the next course of action will be determined. If nothing has been done, the council can carry out the work required and recover the cost from the owners for any expenses reasonably incurred.
Magistrates have already required PCPD to pay £2,000 towards the council’s legal costs.
The Isle of Wight Council’s efforts had been praised by Hampshire Constabulary’s South Wight Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Sgt Ben Sharland, posting on Facebook, said:
“[The planning services team] are completing some incredible work to make this site safe and to reduce the negative impact it is having on our communities. We think you are awesome!”
Hampshire Constabulary is itself taking legal action against PCPD, under a Community Protection Notice, for not taking action to secure the building. PCPD had 2 months to first comply with a warning notice and then an official order but failed to do so.
The matter is currently being prepared for the Magistrates’ Court but could be heard for the first time next month, after a summons to court has been sent to the owners. The summons is for criminal action, not civil.
Best fit battery loud smoke detectors to every room.
As property prices are sky high, clearly the owners have an agenda of what they are waiting for, to do with the property, and likely a chosen few on the council and planning already know what their intentions really are.
I cant be bothered to check but I imagine PCPD isa limited company and will merely wind it up when the council have stepped in and spent our money on tidying up the site and then try and recover costs from them. Bet they cant wait – and IWC you most certainly DO NOT have my support in spending my ratepayer funds in this way. You are NOT judge jury and executioner.
They should be locked up and throw away the key!
That will be another building that goes up in flames then and as normal no one knows how or why
Hopefully, they might do a proper job next time.
IW Council and STC and central Government and IW police are all on a different planet !
PATTING THERE SELFS ON THE BACK, for what exactly ?
YOU ARE ALL A F’N DISGRACE !
SORT IT !!
KNOCK IT ALL DOWN AND GRASS IT OVER !
Bunch of Morrens !
AND THEN RESIGN ON MASS.
ps well done IE, I am not a keyboard warrior,you can get in touch any time.
l can’t say no more incase something else happens.
From a proud Sandown resident.
Several options. One, make it safe and have a ghost hunting venue, two, refurbish it and open up again, or three, pull it down and build a brand spanking new hotel.
That hotel is an absolute dump like sandown itself.