The Friends of Frank James have this week launched a petition calling on the Isle of Wight Council to serve a Statutory Repairs Notice on the owners of the former Frank James Memorial Hospital in East Cowes.
The former hospital is a Grade 2 Listed building built and designed by famous architects John Thomas Micklethwaite and Summers Clark in 1893. The cherished and local landmark was originally a Seamans’s Mission and later in 1903, under the patronage of Princess Beatrice became a local cottage hospital and remained so untill it was closed in 2002 and sold by the NHS. Since then it has remained empty and derelict and is now at serious risk of being lost after a decade or failed attempts of conversion work and vandalism.
Friend of Frank James and Chartered Surveyor, Ian Pickard, said,
“We feel the owners would be happy to see the building fall down. That way they could avoid Listed Building legislation and sell the site for new housing.
“Unfortunately the Isle of Wight Council has played right into their hands despite having a statutory responsibility to protect Island Heritage.”
“We aim to collect 1000 signatures in 100 days to show the Council we are not just a vocal few but speak for all who care passionately about Island heritage.”
The petition is available to sign at the East Cowes Heritage Centre, however you can also sign the petition online here.
