The owners of the derelict Ocean Hotel in Sandown have refused to comply with an enforcement notice issued by the local authority and will now be going to court to appeal against the order.
News that the enforcement notice isn’t being complied with means that the run-down site will not be tidied up before the July deadline, or anywhen in the near future it seems.
In recent years, the hotel has become one of the Island’s biggest eyesores after it was abandoned. It has been the subject of vandalism and arson attacks — including one last year which saw 100 firefighters tackle a blaze which affected all 4 floors.
The Isle of Wight Council has now taken action, after becoming aware of issues affecting the site since 2019, serving a notice to the hotel’s owners, Phoenix Commercial Property Development, ordering them to clean the building up.
The authority has previously said the building’s appearance significantly harms Sandown and has been attempting to work with the owners to have the site tidied and secured but says it has had very little communication with them.
The notice was issued by the council in February but came into force in March, giving 4 months for the work to be carried out.
By now, 13 actions had to be complied with at the site which included:
- Removing the steel supports from the former entrance canopy fronting the Esplanade
- Cutting vegetation down to ground level, removing the waste and applying a suitable weedkiller
- Removing all building materials, litter and vegetation across the site and on the access steps and boundary walls
- Cutting back hedgerow
- Removing trailing ivy
- Repairing boundary fencing next to the High Street
- Cleaning all windows and door glass panes fronting the High Street
- Cleaning the door and window canopies serving the main entrance and first-floor windows of the Kings Ba
By 11th July, the council needed to see the hotel’s High Street frontage cleaned and then any flaking paint or defective reader removed.
However, the owners have now appealed the notice, effectively pausing it. Any work on the site will now not happen until the appeal has been determined.
An initial hearing will be heard at the Isle of Wight Magistrates’ Court on 20th May. Should the council be successful in defending its serving of the notice, the court would confirm updated compliance dates.
A council spokesperson said the authority does have the power to undertake the clean up work itself and recover the costs from the landowner but it can only be done after the notice has expired.
It does not relate though to securing the site, so the council is investigating whether other powers to do so can be found under the Building Act.
Thought they could do a compulsory purchase ?????
I maybe wrong ,but something rang a bell !!!!!!
Hope it’s not a clanger !!!!!!
My taxes are used for enough unnecessary rubbish let alone a burnt out shell of a hotel thanks.
At least it would look better than the s–‘ hole it is now !!!!!
Walked past it yesterday- it’s in a shocking state with the security fencing pulled down and all the windows smashed on the esplanade side.
It offers direct access into the building which must be very dangerous inside given the fire last year.
Smells very fishy to me, so they have to cut down weeds and clean the windows, what about the piles of god knows what on the site just sitting there, the owner will say in court ‘we cant do anything as we brought it to return it to a ‘hotel’ then ‘somebody’ has set fire to it which wasnt our fault, this hotel will be knocked down and turned into holidays homes and the owner will make a small fortune, they brought it for big money so they wont be bothered about waiting aslong as they need to get the green light for demolition.
The useless IWC hasn’t got the powers to clean the site itself and it’s an eyesore?
Okay then, BUT the IWC does have the power to rid North Road of wheelie bins and rubbish on the pavements left 24/7 and can’t even manage that!!. Just one example. So would it be an idea for the IWC to get its own house in order regarding compliance of rules before it started on third parties???
Less useless virtue-signalling and more actual work might play a part here. As for the Ocean Hotel complex, well it’s hardly the only eyesore in Sandown is it?? Amazing how selective the IWC can be when it comes ot enforcement. So corrupt.
SANDOWN itself is the eyesaw!
Sandown has always been an eyesore, especially out of season, and it gets worse every year
That’s some sharp eyebrows
Why on earth cant they do the work?! Idle ….. ! Even in the state it’s in its still the most attractive building left in Sandown, amongst all the new shoebox buildings. If they don’t want it, sell it to someone who does ?!
Bas*ards! They don’t care what effect their property is having on the seaside town of Sandown. They are at the other end of the country!
Something must be done to clear the unsightly mess up and make the building safe. Hopefully when it goes to appeal, they will lose and will be ordered to clear the outside space up.
Here’s my take:
If anything overgrown at minimum goes onto public pavement, the council should have the right to take them to court.
Every person who owns a property has to abide by laws about plants going into public pavements and why is this an exception.
There should also be laws to stop investors who sit on derelict properties in high streets. More than 1 year? Then time is up and have to sell it to an authorised and approved buyer who show they will start building within 2 months of purchase.