A Government task force has said there is a lack of strong vision preventing the transformation of Sandown High Street.
It has also slammed the Isle of Wight Council’s policy for dealing with dilapidated heritage buildings in the town and said a more ‘radical’ plan was needed to address the problem.
Following the deterioration of the town centre in recent years, Sandown was chosen by the Isle of Wight Council, as a specific area of challenge, that would benefit from the support of the High Street Task Force (HSTF). The aim of the task force is to help local leaders make the best decisions about high streets and for their communities.
Government officials visited the town in July to ‘diagnose’ the main problems that, if were not resolved now, would make it difficult for Sandown to change.
In a report, presented at Sandown Town Council’s meeting earlier this week, officers said they could see there was a lot going for the town including the excellent beach, popular pier, strong community spirit and some ‘green shoots of recovery’ on the High Street from independently-owned businesses.
However, they also identified a ‘number of weaknesses’, and said the ways in which the community is empowered to help develop and deliver the vision of the town ‘seemed to be limited’. They believed the Isle of Wight Council should improve its partnerships and communications with businesses and the community to enable a better-quality vision to be developed that can inform future plans.
The single most significant issue, government officials highlighted, was the presence of multiple dilapidated heritage buildings on the Esplanade and Culver Parade.
The obstacles the council faces were said to not be well-understood by visitors or residents so they were left with an overwhelming impression of neglect.
The council’s current strategy — which focuses on enforcing Section 215 notices and compels landlords to improve the condition of their buildings — was said to be unlikely to remedy the situation in the long-term.
The HSTF will provide a workshop for the Isle of Wight Council to receive further expert support in managing and repurposing dilapidated buildings after officers said a more radical plan was needed to address the problem.
To improve the High Street, officials recommended a strategy of ‘repositioning’, to refresh the council’s approach to place leadership; getting to know the town as well as using relevant data and information to develop a collaborative, inspiring vision that achieves change.
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council says that the local authority has already begun the process of considering its approach to enforcement, done in conjunction with key stakeholders.
The council says a potential aim would be to direct enforcement resources to particular issues in particular areas — which could include a focus on dilapidated and empty buildings — to deliver maximum benefits to the community. It says that enforcement notices would remain a tool in certain, appropriate circumstances, but it would consider all options available.
The council has confirmed they are in the process of setting up further HSTF support as a result of the report.
waffle and drivel to disguise the fact they don’t know either.
stop demanding so much money to do business, protect business owners from shoplifters by jailing them and ensure businesses get to keep as much of the money they make for themselves.
stop putting so much red tape in place as well, then you may have half a chance at someone opening up in sandown
The historical problems of Sandown are down to the change of people’s holidays.
The area all along the sea front being occupied by hotels was fine when everyone stayed in them, but without people it falls apart. There is little now to attract people to stay in Sandown let alone visit. If people don’t come, they don’t spend money and small businesses like Poppy’s can’t sell them ice creams. I stayed with my family in Sandown in the 90s and it had an air of run down back then, but retained a bit of charm. The derelict hotel/bar opposite the library started the rot in my eyes and really didn’t do Sandown any favours.
Allowing that mess to stay for so long was disgraceful.
Sandown is and always will be now, a dump. There simply isn’t the money to make it “better” anymore. The council will just slap up luxury flats for all the “tory” elites and that in turn will put up council tax in Sandown for everyone, it’s a vicious circle of tory greed, I’m surprised Truss and Co. don’t get on well with Putin to be honest, starve the poor, repress the workers and start with small landgrabs.
‘Repositioning’, ‘Place leadership’, ‘Getting to know the town well’
Don’t sound like game changing solutions do they!
How can the Isle of Wight Council not know Sandown well?
Because they all live in Freshwater and Bembridge.
Because they have absolutely ZERO interest in it of course!
You’d be hard pressed to find many councillors who would willingly live anywhere near it nowadays. They would rather turn their backs on it and spend more of OUR money to pay outside agencies to ‘diagnose’ the problems.
Are any of the building listed,I don’ Think they are. Only what do they mean by heritage buildings, can these still be knocked down and started with a new build?
Well, I drove past the grand and it looks like somebody is doing something, there is scaffold up, (unless thats to hold it together!)
Likely the council were forced to put the scaffold up as a fire escape for the vandal arsonist to escape safely to ‘do it’ again elsewhere once they have torched the place again.
That’s the problem ,.. but across the island .. the councils lack of vision .. to many ego’s and “ what’s in it for me “ characters at the IWC ..
Sounds like someone needs to come up with a proper busses plan where the Council buys in the freeholds and refurbs or redevelops in return for rental income. And the business rates need removing for the high street shops.
the Council needs to partner with a private company or companies with experience in leisure/hotels/build to rent.
The returns won’t be massively high but the downward spiral needs to be stopped.
There are still reasons to live and holiday in Sandown.
Margate was in a similar state and things are turning around. Perhaps they can speak to that Council to get some help.
Absolutely agree. To encourage new enterprises and the empty shops to be filled and trading again, the rent needs to be minimal. We all know online shopping has killed the High Streets but Sandown is a holiday destination, all year round now, not just the Summer months. People will come and spend if there is something worth buying.
Don’t think they can buy the freehold if it is not up for sale, the freehold is the land the building stands on, and possible the outer walls and roof, what if others own the inner parts of the building, they would need to be bought out also.
what have busses to do with anything
London in the Blitz did not look as bad as Sandown in 2022
I think it’s SO sad. Sandown has such a lovely beach. Still one of the rare places that has a pier. It’s such a shame to see its demise. Not sure what the answer is though?
Sandown longshore men have paid over £1m in rent in the past 10 years. Zero has been spent on the beaches facilities. Instead toilets, showers, beach raking , flags and flowers have all been taken away.