The Isle of Wight Council is being urged to keep the loss-making Dinosaur Isle in Sandown as it discusses the future of the tourist attraction.

It comes as the need for further repair works have been identified at its Culver Parade home, which would cost the council nearly £1 million.

A report into the options available for Dinosaur Isle said the attraction 'punches well below its weight in terms of visitor numbers' but a long-term lack of investment, the Covid pandemic and inefficient marketing have all played a part in the declining visitor numbers.

The lack of visitors has resulted in the authority losing an estimated £417,702 between 2017 and 2023 but it is hoped it would break even this year.

In an effort to keep it open, the council is proposing to split the management of Dinosaur Isle and the collection into two, as it has entered into discussions with the Natural History Museum and Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The authority and the Natural History Museum have reached a stage in discussions, the IW Council says, over the management of the collection. A joint working agreement is being formulated which would benefit both parties.

On the commercial side, the council has had initial conversations with Hampshire Cultural Trust, which could help with joint marketing and promotional activities.

The partnership with the trust could extend to other culture offers on the Island but with an initial focus on Dinosaur Isle.

At the end of last year, local stakeholders said they would like to see the Island turned into the 'dinosaur capital of the UK' and for the collection to be celebrated, invested in and preserved.

Of the 20 representatives, 92.5 per cent said it should remain in Sandown but it was essential for the collection to remain in public ownership and they would not like to see Dinosaur Isle sold.

The council has applied to the Arts Council England for £485,000 funding to carry out some of the urgent maintenance works, which would be topped up by £60,000 from existing council budgets.

It will find out if it was successful in December, giving the authority seven months to negotiate with partners.

It is hoped the regeneration of Dinosaur Isle would kickstart the investment in the area as it sits in the heart of a proposal to develop the surrounding land as a nature reserve or eco-park.

The council's cabinet will discuss the options at its meeting next week.