Browns Golf Course in Sandown can plan for the future after concerns were raised that it would ‘block’ the regeneration of Yaverland and The Bay area if a new lease was granted.
A 5-year lease is now in the process of being signed, between the Isle of Wight Council and new tenant, Paul Saville, who took over the attraction in the summer.
The decision to lease the attraction for five years came under fire recently from a group of councillors who feared it could ‘block’ the regeneration plans of the wider Culver Parade and Yaverland area as being designed in the Bay Place Plan.
Conservative councillors, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Warren Drew, Tig Outlaw, Chris Quirk, Joe Robertson and Ian Ward, along with Labour’s Richard Quigley, said the site was central to the wider area’s regeneration.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans insisted it would not do anything to harm the future of the area or jeopardise any plans currently being worked up as part of the Bay Place Plan.
Speaking at a meeting last week, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, the cabinet member for regeneration, said she would not scupper the long-term projects in that pivotal part of Sandown which is why the council had written a six-month break clause into the lease. She said they knew how long plans take to draw in funding so nothing was going to happen overnight, but in the meantime the very valuable, well-loved asset was open.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has confirmed the approval of the lease for Browns is now going ahead and legal teams have been instructed to proceed as planned.
Cllr Chris Quirk, a Shanklin councillor, said Browns is integral to the Bay Place Plan and what happens with the site is key to lots of parts of the regeneration plan. He said the lease decision was minor but it affected the whole Bay area and should have been discussed with the town and parish councils who are taking part in the Bay Place Plan.
Cllr Quigley withdrew his support for the challenge saying he was happy with the deal and it protects the site, allowing a business to operate there.
Cllr Debbie Andre, the ward member, said she was disappointed the lease had been questioned and stressed how important Browns is along Culver Parade and that it could run alongside the place plan.
Regeneration programme, is that the council’s new saying which actually means more land for houses = more money in my back pocket thank you mr/Mrs building firm.
Come off it. The pace these useless councillors move at means that the “Bay Place Plan” will not be in its draft version before the end of this century. Piffling nonsense like a sea water swimming pool will be long forgotten because the sea fronts will have collapsed before these idiot councillors can even agree who is making the tea.
Whilst the Island will never compete with hot Sunny foreign resorts we are fortunate in having natural beauty and as USP of quaintness.
Yet because money is the driving force in many Councillors lives, they can easily overlook this in a drive to keep building houses whose occupants council tax, often funded by Central Government then swells their coffers, thus salaries and pensions.
The risk is ruining the USP to gain more permanent lucrative income from ugly apartments but losing holiday trade as the area becomes sterile of character.
Cant help wondering if things are done for the people or personal gain by Councillors now.
Time to kick out the councillors who voted against browns signing the 5 year lease.
Don’t worry the councillors will be voted out before 5 years.
Oh dear. Almost as dirty as the ocean surrounding it now then.
Why do we pay for Councillors, all of them are as much use as an empty
Crisp packet.
“Sack the lot of them”
50p to use the bogs in Sandown is a crime against humanity!
P*ss up a wall, much cheaper, most people do thesedays.
Didn’t know it was 50p. That is scandalous.
Just think Southern Water uses the sea for free.
The toilets by the Sundial are 50p
There is a toilet block near the old comical that charges 20p
that is still too much.
WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO PAY AT ALL!,
it is a crime to have to pay for an act of nature.