Steps taken for Ocean Hotel to be secured

Work is being carried out to secure the Ocean Hotel, on Sandown sea front, which has been blighted by repeated trespassing, vandalism and arson, since it closed in 2017.

Now the Isle of Wight Council has stepped in using emergency powers. Councillor Paul Fuller, cabinet member for planning, said:

“This is a significant step forward to reduce anti-social behaviour, while we work towards a longer-term solution. Intruders are not only putting themselves and the local community in danger, they are also risking the safety of our emergency services who are called there regularly.”

All access points to the ground floor will be blocked with metal sheeting, and ledges or staircases, which could provide access to the upper floors, will be removed or guarded. Vegetation will be removed from the frontage and extra Heras fencing installed. The work, being carried out by Vectis Security Group, is expected to take around two weeks to complete.

Sergeant Ben Sharland, from the South Wight Neighbourhoods Policing Team, said: “Understandably, the local community has had enough. Problems have ranged from anti-social behaviour attributed to repeated trespass, to more serious offending such as arson, which presents a real risk to life. The building is derelict, and is therefore in itself also a safety hazard to anyone who accesses it.

“There have been three arrests in relation to recent arson, and our enquiries are ongoing. We are liaising with other services to find housing for rough sleepers who use the site, and working together on more robust security measures to prevent access and further offending.

Local councillor, Ian Ward, said: “The Ocean Hotel owners have fought the council in the courts at every attempt to deal with the situation; unfortunately, each case takes many months to resolve.

“I thank the receiver, the planning enforcement team and legal officers and the police. All the courts have agreed with the council so hopefully we can now move forward.”

One IW Observer reader, in her 80s, told how she was verbally abused and scared by a group of drunk and disorderly people, while she was walking along the Esplanade with her husband on Saturday. She believed the group were squatting in the derelict building. Although she contacted the police, they said they were not able to find enough evidence to identify any potential suspect, so closed the case.