Enforcement action is being taken against the owners of a former doctors’ surgery in East Cowes 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. Since then, 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.
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.
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, however nothing was done.
It’s about time something was done to sort out this eyesore.
When it used to be a surgery you were able to see a GP, unlike the new one which has been a complete waste of money.
Our crappy council could use compulsory purchase orders, but never do… It’s infuriating. Why do I pay them so much tax? They’re worse than useless