Dinosauria Theme Park Debate Roars Back To Life As Isle Of Wight Political Row Reignites

Political tensions over the long-abandoned Dinosauria theme park proposal have resurfaced on the Isle of Wight, with a heated exchange at Sandown Town Council reigniting a debate that has rumbled on for more than a decade.

The issue was raised during Monday night's meeting of Sandown Town Council, where councillor Paddy Lightfoot said he was "disappointed" to learn that efforts were being made to revive the controversial Dinosauria project.

Originally promoted by the Isle of Wight Council's former Conservative administration as a £33million "Disneyland-like" attraction for Sandown, the plans were shelved in 2021 when the Alliance administration chose not to take them forward.

The latest row emerged after Reform UK county councillor Frank Baldry indicated he was supporting attempts to bring the project back to the table.

Sandown Mayor Alex Lightfoot reiterated that the town council's official position remains firmly behind the International School of Rewilding (ISR) proposal, which would see a 140-hectare site near the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary transformed into rewilded wetlands with visitor facilities.

Speaking at the meeting, the mayor said the council had overwhelmingly backed the ISR project and warned that revisiting Dinosauria would only delay progress.

"Dinosauria has been opposed pretty much every time it rears its head," he said.

"I think it will slow absolutely everything down, so let's not go down that road."

Former Isle of Wight Conservative councillor Ian Ward hit back, arguing supporters of Dinosauria had never been given a fair opportunity to present an alternative vision for the site.

Mr Ward said:

"The trouble is, they're never offered an alternative. They're only told one side of the story."

Mayor Lightfoot responded by claiming the theme park proposal had been discussed for around ten years and had consistently been deemed unviable by council officers.

He also criticised the plans for not fitting with wider regeneration ambitions for the Bay area.

The exchange became increasingly heated, with Mr Ward insisting the project had been prevented from progressing by previous political decisions, while former independent county councillor Debbie Andre responded: "For a reason."

The latest clash highlights how divisions over the future of Sandown's regeneration remain as strong as ever, despite Dinosauria being officially shelved five years ago.