The owners of the Melbourne Ardenlea in Shanklin, which was forcibly closed by the Isle of Wight Council last week, say they will fight the ‘groundless’ allegations that the hotel’s gas and electrical supply is unsafe.
As first reported by Island Echo, the Melbourne Ardenlea on Queens Road has been handed 2 prohibition notices as concerns have been raised by officials that the hotel poses a risk to personal safety.
A notice stuck to the front door tells guests that the hotel has been closed ‘due to unexpected maintenance’, but in reality, the hotel has been legally forced to shut to all members of the public. It’s understood the hotel has remained closed since October 2019.
Since the news broke on Monday, a spokesperson for the hotel has said:
“We believe the prohibition notices served are groundless and will be appealed.
“The hotel has already provided all the certifications to the Isle of Wight Council including the gas appliances certificate issued by a competent and Corgi registered commercial gas plumber, along with the satisfactory electrical installation report in June 2021.
“The hotel has always striven to maintain highest safety standards.
Article continues below this advertisement “We are issuing an appeal and are confident the Prohibition Notices served will be set aside. We hope to be in a position to re-open shortly and thank our loyal satisfied guests and staff for their support.”
The hotel has made accusations that the Isle of Wight Council’s Environmental Health team have a personal vendetta against the Melbourne Ardenlea.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council told Island Echo earlier this week:
“The hotel was planning to open following the period of lockdown and it was alleged that since the premises had been closed conditions had deteriorated to an extent that it was unsafe and unhygienic.
“Investigations into these allegations have resulted in the service of prohibition notices served under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 as there was reason to believe that the gas and electrical installation and appliances were unsafe and use of which could result in a risk of serious personal injury.
“In addition, a number of other areas of improvement and remedial works have been required to ensure that the premises complied with relevant legal requirements.”
highest safety standards – trouble is pictures speak louder than words.
look at the state of that so called wheelchair access ramp to the left of the steps – looks in need of sorting out.
look at the amount of plants growing out of the wall by that ramp – clearly as roots grow it will weaken the structure and what about that large bush against the wall and into the parking area.
the steps may have been painted white – but look at the quality of the workmanship – shabby.
look at the magnolia wall upto the roof …looks like damp grey areas towards the bottom
look at the state of the window ledges – faded and tatty.
that is outside – inside?
they were closed before lockdown and asked guest to pack-up and leave without refund and told staff to also leave without pay.
This is a game to keep the government money/support even though they were closed.
still on booking.com taking money from people
Just looking at the picture of the outside is bad enough. Obviously no work has been done outside, and that is what people coming to stay see first when they arrive, god knows what the inside is like. Shocking.
So he has produced Corgi safe certificates, now im’e not a gas fitter but as i understood it Corgi was replaced with Gas Safe certificates so if this is the case the ones he has produced would be worthless anyway, maybe a professional gas installer could give the facts on this one, either way, the place is a complete disgrace to other hotels in the area and deserved to be shut down anyway.
“The hotel has always striven to maintain highest safety standards.”
Doesn’t look like they have tried that hard…..what a dump.
The place looks like it needs knocking down. It had a written off car in the car park better looking than the hotel
Someone should be greeting guest’s and finding alternative accommodation for guest’s not leaving a notice on the door.
I believe the owner lives in tbe middle east and has just run the hotel into the ground spending the minimum umount of money possible to keep it limping along
I’ve heard he has loads of money and owns 2 other successful hotels!!!! Don,t believe a word anymore that comes out of that hotel. Big sheet of plastic tarpaulin over the kitchen roof to stop the rain pouring in, put there last week after 2/3 years, rotten as a horseshoe, belongs to a rich owner, they are having a laugh.