The Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire Constabulary has denied claims made against them by the former freeholders of the Ocean Hotel.
In a statement to the press earlier this week, Phoenix Commerical Property Development (PCPD) revealed it has walked away from the derelict Sandown eyesore and the Isle of Wight.
The company has sold the freehold to an American property investment company, who is said to be selling it immediately on to an overseas developer.
In its statement, PCPD say the action taken against it by both the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire Constabulary has been “nothing short of a witchhunt, motivated by local politics”. It also claims to have not been served with any criminal notice by the police and to be appealing a decision made against them by magistrates, in favour of the Isle of Wight Council, to the crown court.
In response to the claims, the Isle of Wight Council said it has not received any notice of an appeal.
Investigations reveal one may have been lodged, but with Durham Crown Court. The Isle of Wight Crown Court says it has not heard anything about the appeal since it was lodged and has not been asked for any further information to support it.
The council has confirmed, again, it has been sent no notice of the appeal, from either court. Durham Crown Court has been approached for clarification.
On 7th July — 4 days before the Community Protection Notice deadline — Hampshire Constabulary confirmed PCPD had ‘acknowledged receipt’ of the notice. However, the company deny this and said it believes the Police may have served the notice to an incorrect address but it was ‘certainly a false statement’ to claim they had acknowledged receipt.
Hampshire Constabulary confirmed on Thursday that the company was served with a CPN and Police are investigating an alleged breach as such. The process is currently going through the courts, so the police were unable to confirm anything further.
The matter came before the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court for the first hearing on Tuesday 13th September, where Stephen Purvis, now a former company director at PCPD, was supposed to appear. Mr Purvis was not present, however, so the case was adjourned until 4th October.
A spokesperson for the Police force said they are aware of the company’s intention to appeal Police action and are reviewing the matter.
Neither public body wished to respond further to the comments made by PCPD.
All I’ve got to say is, whoever bloody owns the freehold, many people in Sandown on the Isle of Wight really hope work gets underway very soon. It’s such a shame seeing this once thriving hotel falling into decay and being smashed up and set alight by ferral youths.
The location right on the seafront is perfect for another hotel or apartments. Just don’t leave it too long before work gets underway! Please.
Instead of arguing and Court costs etc why don’t all parties work together instead of blaming each other. Police have duty to protect property and prevent crime at all times,IWC need to consider carefully plans out before them, not for there benefit, but for the community and owners of hotel,seem to remember that old arcade along sea front was refused permission,arcade closed and became deralict etc, eventually getting permission. Trouble on this Island the council have far to much power and control over everything from planning, Social Care, Education, Island Roads etc and is just destroying the Island whilst costing tax payers twice as much as mainland.
To say we pay twice as much, they’re not doing a very good job are they? Worst education, social care so defunct the hospital cannot cope, and this hotel another example of a sad saga which never ends (ditto floating bridge). And then there’s roads…
It’s just a constant wind up which isn’t funny.
The council can do a compulsory purchase and there is nothing the owners can do. If they want some compensation then they will have to come forward. If they do not respond they will loose it. Many reason can be give for a compulsory, not just that it’s in the way of a road. The council have enough to go down this route. Then they can bulldoze it, clear the site, and sell, with planing permission in place, for a healthy profit.
Too easy for the council !!
The council want to grow some b. S do a compulsory order flatten it and sell it on
Perhaps the company name’ Phoenix , is after several fires another sassy dig at the slow , lumbering inefficient outdated laws we have.
When compared to quick witted, smart, sly and slippery property companies making millions from such loop holes and weaknesses in our judicial ways an apt name
They know how to play the game, setting up different companies, a string of ex employees who can not be held accountable etc. and muddy the water by allegedly selling on to foreign companies
This is part of a multi-million-pound fraud across the country, there are many bankrupt false companies buying up properties and selling people worthless leases on their dream property which will never exist.