The new developers behind the Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp resort have confirmed that no migrants will be housed there, rebuffing fake news rumours circulating on social media.
Encore Leisure Propco has confirmed that work is being undertaken at the clifftop location near Brighstone to allow the site to ‘legally and functionally operate’ as a holiday destination – and for it to become commercially viable.
Martin Pollard, the director of the Axis consultancy, agent for Encore, has dispelled a recent unsubstantiated post on social media that the site could be used to house asylum seekers.
An AI-generated ‘news report’, posted by the mystery ‘Isle Newes’ Facebook account, sparked concern amongst the local community last week. It is the absolute definition of fake news.
But Mr Pollard has said:
“Since inheriting the site following the granting of planning permission, Encore Leisure Propco Limited are currently undertaking vital and costly construction work at the Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp.
“This work is necessary to ensure that the site can legally and functionally operate as a holiday resort, but also contributes to it becoming commercially viable as a business that is attractive to holiday users and creates permanent employment for the region.
“To achieve this fully and following positive conversations with both Brighstone and Shorwell parish councils, relatively minor but absolutely vital amendments to the original planning application are required and will be sought in a new planning application.
Article continues below this advertisement “In this regard, we are also actively seeking a meeting with the planning and National Landscape officers to see how we can address their specific queries and concerns.
“Finally, to be clear, and contrary to recent comments on social media, as part of that process there has been no consideration for the use of this site by those seeking asylum.”
Mr Pollard’s comments come after Encore Leisure Propco withdrew a planning application to develop the site without complying with conditions attached to a previous application.
Axis’s statement submitted as part of the withdrawn application said:
“The site is currently vacant due to the former operator going into administration.
“Nevertheless, its use as a holiday resort is well established with the site almost continuously playing host to holiday accommodation for circa 90 years.
“The applicant, as the new operator of the holiday resort, proposes the Section 73 application to agree the non-compliance of planning conditions related to the 2022 planning consent with the clear aim of improving the attractiveness and functionality of the holiday park, securing its long-term future and viability and the benefits it will bring to the local economy.”
If the Government told IW Council to house them
they wouldn’t have a choice.
That’s life.
Yes, they would. Additional funding would have to be offered and agreed and a program of integration and/or relocation would be implemented which is far too expensive to start from scratch on an island with no public transport links outside of the two main ferry operators do safe to say it’s not happening.
From whence would come the authority for central government to tell the County Council to do anything? More scandal-mongering to go with the AI generated fake story
Since the election, we have had a massive influx of non indigenous.
Forced upon us, so don’t believe a word that social housing is for islanders, its not!!
Needs Parkdean resorts taking on this venture.