The former owners of Sandown’s derelict Ocean Hotel will appear before the Isle of Wight Crown Court this week.
It is the latest step in the Isle of Wight Council’s case against Phoenix Commercial Property Development (PCPD).
In February 2022, PCPD appealed a tidy-up order for the eyesore hotel and the matter has been going through the courts ever since.
Announcing the latest news, Sandown town Councillor, Ian Ward, said he was very pleased to see the case was progressing, calling it another step forward. He said he hoped it would reassure concerned Sandown residents.
PCPD sold the freehold in 2022 and its current ownership is unclear.
No work can be done to restore or secure the hotel until the matter is concluded.
Not like the former owners have any obligation to do anything is it. Just let the new owners knock down this eyesore and build something better.
I thought the same, if it is now owned by someone else then PCPD, don’t really have any rights to go on the land or touch anything, so taking them to court is a waste of money.
I don’t know this as fact regarding this case, but often chancers like these will sell the asset to another company, doubtless owned by the same people, to slow down the process and reduce liability. The old company will now have no assets, be worthless and therefore cannot effectively be sued. The council will then have to start the same process with the new company. And so it goes on.
The court procedure as I understand it is to the former owner ,not the company. Having said that he probably has no intention of paying any fine
The owner was a company, with directors, they could pursue them, but waste of money, as no one other than the current owners can access the property.
More smoke and mirror tactics from IWC, and Phoenix will run circles around the IWC .. so no real news here
It may be that as the court involvement started against the former tenants it has to be concluded and set aside ( as it seems they have no responsibility for it anymore) before a new case can be opened against those who own it now.
This eyesore is affecting other businesses and tourism.
All businesses in Sandown should refuse to pay their rates until this
Monsteratry is demolished and the site is made tidy.
It not just properties like this it effecting businesses. The businesses are not exactly, shops you would rush to.
Don’t understand. A saerch on land registry will show who the legal owner is. Nothing difficult about that and not expensive either. anyone can do it so why the uncertainty about the current owner ?
Who ever “owns” it clearly doesn’t want it. The council should just take it. Compulsory purchase order for £1.