"Further Work" Required To Bring Winter Gardens Up To "Acceptable Standard" Says Council

A “significant number” of the 19 remedial actions issued by the Isle of Wight Council to restore Ventnor Winter Gardens are still outstanding, a public meeting at the town’s Better Days Cafe heard yesterday (Monday).

In an update on the future of the dilapidated Art Deco-style landmark , Natasha Dix, County Hall’s service director for waste, environment and planning, said “further work” was required to bring it up to an “acceptable standard”.

In April, the council embarked upon a pre-Section 215 process with local businessman Kevin Sussmilch, of the Winter Gardens’ owners, The Hambrough Group, which identified improvements needed to the building such as re-rendering, filling in cracks, painting and repairing the roof.

The council is not “yet” looking at escalating the matter into a “formal” Section 215 notice but would rapidly revisit this decision if “anything slows down or stops”, Ms Dix told attendees.

Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives a local planning authority power, in certain circumstances, to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area, according to government guidance.

She said at this stage it was “considered proportionate” to continue engaging with the landowner to encourage “voluntary completion” of the outstanding works.

The council has to work its way through the planning enforcement process in a manner “that’s deemed reasonable” and can be demonstrated as such in the event of a court challenge, the officer added.

“Positively, we started to see a lot of works… at the Winter Gardens, as well as clearing debris, rubbish, weeds and the general area.

“While some progress has been made, a significant number of the 19 identified remedial actions are still outstanding… just the western elevation that has seen those updates at this point in time.

“We have seen that section of the building has been cleansed and selectively rendered – painted white which has positively impacted the overall amenity of the area.

“However that condition of the elevation does remain poor and further work is required to bring the building up to an acceptable standard.”