“There is a neglect, dereliction problem in this town and it needs to be taken seriously,” an Isle of Wight town councillor said earlier this week.
Sandown Town Council (STC)’s Councillor Leon Girling accused County Hall of not “prioritising need” in the town.
His comments came ahead of STC’s votes to adopt, and continue to improve and refine, a landmark draft report presenting a ‘compelling case for urgent and sustained regeneration in Sandown’.
STC also agreed to ‘lobby the Isle of Wight Council and other bodies’. The Neglect Case report says the town ‘faces a crisis of neglect, with widespread dereliction, economic fragility, and social deprivation’.
Addressing attendees at Sandown’s Broadway Centre, Cllr Girling said:
“This kind of document has never been produced here before – I’ve only sat here for around two and a half months, and I’ve pulled it together.
“It’s been really lacking and missing to date… as Isle of Wight Council, Isle of Wight council officers, Isle of Wight councillors, you don’t prioritise your money in the right way.”
He added the town’s dereliction problem had not been treated seriously ‘for 20 years’. However, Sandown county and town councillor Debbie Andre voiced concern over ‘raising expectations we can’t deliver’.
She told the meeting:
“There’s some good stuff in here but I’m a little bit nervous that it will create an expectation that we can’t deliver.
“I fully appreciate that you say this is a vehicle, a tool for getting funding in but as Ian (Ward) and I know, that is very difficult to achieve.”
She suggested a further piece of work was possibly needed to “assess priorities of the art of the possible at this stage”.
The report voted on last night says:
“Despite clear evidence of need, the town has been consistently overlooked in strategic planning and funding decisions at both local and national levels.
“The purpose of this report is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based overview of Sandown’s current condition, the systemic issues contributing to its decline, and the community-led solutions that are ready for implementation.
“It aims to refocus the attention of decision-makers and funding bodies on Sandown’s urgent needs and untapped potential.”
A spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“The Isle of Wight Council acknowledges the concerns raised by Sandown Town Council and members of the local community regarding the condition and future of the town.
“We recognise the strength of feeling expressed and the importance of the issues highlighted in the town council meeting relating to the recently prepared Neglect Case report.
“We welcome the commitment shown by Sandown Town Council to engage constructively in shaping a positive future for the town.
“The report clearly reflects the passion and dedication of those involved in its preparation, and we commend the effort to bring forward community-led ideas and solutions.
“Given the significance and breadth of the matters raised, it is important that the Isle of Wight Council takes the time to review the report in full before offering detailed comment.”
Nothing will be done until we sort out the land bankers (rhyming slang), who purchase buildings then neglect them for long term gain.
We know who they are.
Jordans mob don’t give a crap about Sandown or Ventnor. All this council want is not tourists, they just want private, expensive private flats so they can rake in the council tax. Tourism is dead on the island nowadays. Thanks to multiple rubbish council leaders, ferry problems and pricing, and lets be honest, rubbish attractions which are overpriced beyond belief.
Such a pity, lovely beach good hotels, what on earth has gone wrong?
Leon Girling, I salute your hope and dreams. If you can help Sandown in any way, you will have the backing of the East Wight. So good to hear someone trying to do something at last. We don’t need negative councillors, we need someone who will fight for our once naturally beautiful coastal town.
I’m not sure what devolution means in real terms for the island and cannot see any benefits. But if there are any I’d like to see the regeneration of Sandown as a priority.
if there were less benefit spongers, less taxes and less red tape, then there would be more investment in sandown from private entrepreneurs. The council own this mess pure and simple
Sandown what dump biggest shithole on the island..
Council needs to start approving all the change of land usages, it’s that simple.
Then all these derelict hotels can be turned in to housing, this will help reduce the need for green site housing for quotas from Government.
It’s a problem of their own making.
nah – leave them derelict – we don’t want more illegals dumped here
What an idiotic comment.
At last, someone talking sense. I detest IOW Council more than I can say and more than any other council I’ve ever paid council tax to. I blame their planners and other departments for the state of Sandown. Those employees have let us residents down for years. Absolutely disgusting.