SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
To agree the objectives for the sale of rights over
Council land.
BACKGROUND
2.
Adjacent to the Council’s public car park at Godshill
is the Old Smithy tourist attraction and its large car park. Access to the Old Smithy car park (see plan)
for the visitors to Godshill has been allowed via the Council’s car park. The partnership owning the Old Smithy
attraction has asked to acquire permanent right through the Council’s car park.
3.
Terms for this right were agreed in August 2004 and
included replacement of the public conveniences nearby. This was a delegated decision which the Old
Smithy Partnership now wishes to vary.
Because this area falls in the electoral division of the Cabinet Member,
the revised terms are a decision for the Cabinet.
4.
The car park forming part of the Old Smithy is in
effect the main car park for visitors to Godshill both by car and by
coach. The Isle of Wight Council car
park provides approximately 36 car parking spaces, whilst that of the Old
Smithy provides a total of approximately 300 spaces for cars and some 20 coach
spaces.
5.
Access through the Council’s land represents the sole
means of suitable vehicle access to the Old Smithy car park and whilst it was
understood that alternative route may be available from land situated further
west of the High Street it is difficult to see that such could be made suitable
because of physical and legal constraints.
6.
Both car parks are heavily used, particularly during
the busy summer season and as indicated previously much of the visitor
attraction to Godshill is dependant on use of the Old Smithy car and coach
park.
7.
Whilst there is no requirement for visitors to
Godshill who park free of charge within the Old Smithy car/coach park to visit
facilities of the Old Smithy, in practise there are pedestrian links from the
car/coach park is through the Old Smithy attraction that clearly benefit the
business.
8.
The Old Smithy car/coach park is outside the
development envelope as designated in the Unitary Development Plan and the
Council’s public car park is within the development envelope, it also falls
within the conservation area.
9.
The Old Smithy now wishes to vary the terms previously
agreed and pay a monetary consideration instead of providing new public
conveniences.
10.
New terms have been discussed and are being
recommended to the Cabinet. The Old
Smithy asked that these terms be treated as confidential in that they have
commercial sensitivity. The terms are
therefore set out in a confidential appendix.
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES
11.
To enable this attraction through a long term access.
12.
To support the development of tourism in Godshill.
13.
Make the best use of Council resources.
14.
Improve public facilities such as the public
conveniences nearby.
