Plans Revealed For Iconic Island Beauty Spot Turned 'Bombsite'

Stylish “eco-lodges”, a “sympathetic” planting scheme and a “rescue” of dilapidated railway carriages by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway have been proposed as remedies for an Island beauty spot, turned ‘bombsite’.

Director of Duver Enterprises Andrew Palmer was centre stage at St Helens Parish Council’s annual meeting yesterday evening (Monday), setting out plans to redevelop land at The Duver, St Helens, a “beautiful site which has become an eyesore”.

Duver Enterprises leases the area from the Isle of Wight Council and for years there has been ‘anger’ and ‘upset’ among residents over the state of the area – concern which was aired again at St Helens Community Centre last night.

Mr Palmer’s plans follow a ten year dispute over the leasehold between County Hall and Duver Enterprises which has now been settled, with the drawing up of a new lease.

Mr Palmer told attendees:

“I am as disappointed as you are about the state of The Duver. It has in fact been in need of a substantial upgrade since we bought it in 2007.

“The caravans, we would like to replace with more contemporary, wooden eco-lodges that are stylish.

"We also intend to carry out a sympathetic planting over the whole area which the caravans occupy, to allow a restoration of natural flora and flauna.

“The existing railway carriages – we all know they’re in really poor condition and have been for some time – our proposal is that we give those to the Isle of Wight Steam Railway company…their skilled workforce will rescue the carriages.”

He also mentioned plans to replace some of the carriages with new beach huts, “built to look very much like railway carriages”.

In addition, some new huts would “likely” take the form of more “traditional beach huts”, subject to the upcoming St Helens Village Consultation, Mr Palmer added.

However, in a following question and answer session, there was still disquiet over the site’s maintenance.

“Without pinning you to the wood, you’ve had the (new) lease now since January, so…come on,” one member of the public said.

“As we go past the Baywatch, all you hear is people saying what is that mess…”