Plans For Botanic Garden Upgrade Fail To Take Root With Ventnor Council

A project seeking to enhance an Isle of Wight attraction 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 two 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 cafe.

“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.”

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 December 16 and a decision is scheduled for December 19.