Isle of Wight needs tougher powers on derelict sites says reader

After the disaster this week at Ryde Town Hall, which was just waiting to happen, I write with dismay at the stance taken over this lovely old building and others around the town.

Having opened with that statement, I would say that I admire the people who have — and are trying to get — something done to this and other buildings around the town.

They are to be applauded for their efforts, but have a very uphill struggle.

As normal, I see the Isle of Wight Council are absent with comments, so no change there then!

I note that the local councillor is there saying he will try to get some action.

Thanks for that, but I must point out that other examples of this have resulted in little progress.

Just look at the Royal York hotel at the bottom of George Street!

It is clear to me that the law has blunt teeth, and the owner of this building — and others around the town — will just do the absolute minimum to satisfy whatever very costly legal action the council takes, and just wait for the site to fall down, then demolish it.

In short, it’s a 'land bank'.

What is needed is support from government — both to resolve this local issue, and the national issue of the present law — so the enforcement has teeth.

• Read more letters sent to the County Press HERE
• Find the County Press on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
• Do you have a view on this or any other subject? Send us a letter to editor@iwcp.co.uk

Until that is done, nothing will change and the hand-wringing stance will go on.

The examples in the Ryde area are the old Ryde Arena, near the hovercraft terminal, the Town Hall and the Royal York Hotel, to name a few.

We should realise that although many people are trying to get some action, all of this will be of little use, as the 'bean counters' will just say it cannot be afforded, and the legal system will not help.

So at the end of all of this, we will eventually be looking at demolishing the existing building, when they are sold to developers, which is the end game, and which will probably take years to come to fruition.

In the meantime, we will be forced to live with this degradation and shocking state of affairs.