A new ‘concerted approach’ is needed to take action on the number of derelict buildings on the Isle of Wight, according to those behind the Our Island party.
The problem of derelict buildings in Sandown has recently been highlighted on social media, with many members of online community groups in the town complaining about the so-called eyesores in key tourist locations such as the seafront and high street – but according to the party’s candidate for Sandown South, it isn’t a problem exclusively felt there.
Our Island Party candidate, Pauline Evans, has said:
“Our Island wants to see the life brought back to our High Streets and seaside towns. Even before the pandemic there was a serious problem. Hopes that the development of individual attractions or locations leading the way for a revitalised place have not come about, although in part due to the effect of the pandemic. However it is now clear that a wider strategic approach is necessary.
“We propose that the new Isle of Wight Council sets up a specific unit to work on our seafronts and town centres to take active steps to bring about the improvements that are so desperately needed.
“In addition to measures to encourage people to come to our towns and to promote the use of empty shops, such as free parking and business rate holidays, the Council should use the full set of powers available to it in respect of buildings and do so in an active and coordinated fashion.”
The party believes that the enforcement measures available to the Isle of Wight Council should be used – including the enforcement of Compulsory Purchase Orders, and it’s ability to issue enforceable notices which require restoration works to be carried out, as part of the Town and Country Planning Act.
An important part of the proposed approach should also be improving housing stock to better serve the needs of the community, including that for young adults and the elderly.
Pauline added:
“A lot of people in Sandown feel very strongly about the way in which many buildings have been disregarded over the years. They are willing to stand together to help secure the preservation of these properties. Many of them have historical significance as well as adding to the quality of Sandown as a place and, as such, they have a notable effect on our tourist revenue stream.”
Sandown is a total mess and to say most mainlander relate the Isle of Wight to sandown as well. Its sad to see this council letting it go to rack and ruin then give them self 1000s of pounds for air con and new not needed cars is a total crime
Sadly Sandown’s days as a tourist attraction ended in the 90’s
Looking like a compulsory purchase then luxury apartments which none of the islands young workers could afford.
They’ll probably get some badly built rabbit hutch on the old browns site, then get flooded out.
Ive got the best suggestion for all this but unfortunately there is no avenue to contribute
Ive called and emailed the regeneration team for the council but no one gets back to you.
I think I am correct in saying that the owners of The Grand made a planning application for a brand new 60-bed hotel which was refused by Council Planning, a slightly reduced scheme was also turned down. However, a new 30-bed scheme was approved!
logic says that had the original scheme been approved, work would have gone ahead, however, a small 30-bed hotel as a brand-new construction would NEVER be economically viable.
Sorry, blame the good-old Isle of Wight Council for this eyesore.
How many beds has The Royal York Hotel? They are taking their time in doing that so it’s more about wanting the site for development rather than a hotel.
Pretty sure The Grand has stood like that for at least 25 years.
Have you seen it lately if it looked like the picture it would look ok ..
At last, yes please the Isle of Wight has become a rundown eye sore. Full of decaying empty building. Litter strewn road sides.
What a sight the towns look now.
Don’t built, regenerate the Isle of Wight.
Went for my walk down Sandown front over the weekend. What a God awful mess. Its like a third world war zone.
I’ve lived in some rough areas in my time, few compare to what is going on down there.
I think if one of the news channels filmed it you anonymously, you would never guess it was a English seaside resort. Come on council, forget about all these new housing projects get the bread and butter sorted out, pronto.
Staycation in Sandown, maybe just the once.
Bit extreme, it’s sandown not South Sudan
Have the council considered that maybe they have a hand in encouraging tourism to the Island. Can any of us say we find the state of the public conveniences on the seafront anywhere even close to acceptable on a hot weekend day during peak season after many thousands of uses in a unisex facility with blocked toilets, rubbish everywhere and an extremely pungent aroma of stale urine. This is the kind of thing that matters most, not only to the tourists but just as much to Islanders.
Imagine Sandown without the beach, cliffs and sea…
Now think of a reason to go there.
Tourism is the Islands largest industry, so the Council sold off half the public toilets, closed the tourist information centres, and continually jack up the cost of parking. With the high cost of the ferries to contend with as well, a downward spiral is inevitable for once proud but now dilapidated resorts such as Sandown unless major investment is forthcoming.
Some action is needed now to start the regeneration of Sandown. It is a total mess. How on earth can the IOW Council expect holiday makers to pay to come and holiday here. Residents of Sandown are angry and upset to see the sorry state of the seafront, the once was Ocean, Kings and the Grand. It all needs to be bought back, earning money. Oh, forgot the former Savoy site. The high street is depressing and looking very run down.
Is this an artists impression of what it will look like after the council have ‘regenerated’ it? It is so difficult to tell these days which areas they have supposedly regenerated and which they haven’t
Knowing the history of the grand, isn’t it a listed building?? And it should be preserved. It once had beautiful Artdeco look inside and it would be a shame to knock it down to make a meter paid car park or crammed in with houses with no gardens, surely it’s part of the island’s history and has to be preserved!
sandown, like all others declined to where it is because of punitive charges by the council for doing business in the area – why should i pay the council, when it is my hard work that generates the income – they do nothing, but expect to be paid.
why bother setting up a tourism business in sandown just to be expected to pay and IW bid levy – and for what, to see a bunch of people taking it in wages and chatting round a table, whilst you still bust your own arse trying to succceed.
also, the cheaper and cheaper holidays abroad, with cheap flights killed sandown off further.
sandown is finished in its current form as a holiday destination.
All caused by greedy IWC ,then business close they try and charge others more- they close so let’s put up council tax , oh less jobs so more on Benefits so less council tax , let’s put up parking charges, less able to pay and off putting to tourist and so on. The IWC create the problems and then employ consultants, more pen pushers more costs etc- at this rate schools will close, no employment, ordinary people will move away ,we will have only upper class and low life feeding from crime from them.
I am shocked at how bad Sandown has become after several lockdown walks along the seafront, it’s like war torn Beirut, please somebody buy up these derelict buildings and breathe some new life in them, Sandown has a stunning beach with so much potential, so terribly let down by this situation
You only have to look at the state of County Hall to see what state our Council is in. They take no pride in their own workplace – it’s a disgrace.
They are the most ineffective council I’ve ever encountered and yet Council Tax is so high here.
Disgusted with what’s allowed in Sandown with the decrepit buildings. It wouldn’t happen in Bembridge or Gurnard. Wonder why?
It’s not just the Grand it’s The Tarvic and the Moritz hotels damaged by fire almost 3 years ago no signs of restoration or demolition then there’s the hole in the ground on the avenue road junction….and I haven’t even got to the high street….
Iow council spend nothing in Sandown and our councillors look on, in fact rather than invest our money in our town upgrading, they sell of the assets such as the pier Street toilets ….People will come to the island because of good memories of yesteryear but they won’t comeback because of neglected Sandown….
You are forgetting islanders going to sandown… years ago, I used to travel to sandown at weekends and spend my leisure time around the sea front during the day and then in some of the bars/clubs at night – not any more – it is desolate and uninviting…once lockdown is over, I will be returning to my usual plans, of going out in portsmouth/southsea during the day and probably gunwharf quays in the evening, before catching the late boats back.
wow as someone finally woke up been saying this for years