A project seeking to enhance Ventnor Botanic Garden’s has drawn criticism from a local council.
Ventnor Botanic Garden’s plans for a new glass corridor and additional toilet facility at the site have been met with an objection from Ventnor Town Council (VTC).
According to a submitted Planning Statement, the scheme would improve the site’s retail operation, enhance the venue for events and ‘help in the day-to-day operation of the garden’.
It says:
“Using design and sympathetic materials, and copying like-for-like, the proposal is for construction of a connecting link between 2 shop buildings, effectively reinstating what was a glass corridor/tunnel at handover from the Isle of Wight Council in 2012.
“In addition, the shop would be extended to provide a set of public toilets on the south side of the shop between the shop and the main building.
“The provision of new toilets would improve the facilities available to visitors and for customers of the café.
“Importantly, the gallery is currently unmanned and by creating the link all visitors to the shop and gallery would need to pass through the shop allowing staff to be on hand to aid customers.”
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However, a spokesperson for VTC said:
“Ventnor Town Council oppose this application. Although the committee likes the idea of providing additional toilets, it is felt that the internal layout could be reasonably improved as it currently compromises the privacy of male and female genders due to both accessing these facilities through the same lobby.”
County Hall’s public consultation on application 25/01484/FUL ends on 16th December and a decision is scheduled for 19th December.
Making sure the lift works all the time should be top of VBG list,it’s a shambles if you have disability or pushing somebody in a wheelchair
The improvements are not going to impact the snobby neighbors that would have co.llained against it so a little common sense is needed
The sooner the nasty neglectful huntmaster “owner”John Curtis is out of there the better. The council should never have sold it to him for a £1 in the first place.