A TOWN council and owners of the derelict Norris Castle are butting heads over the proposed development and public consultation.

Clynt Wellington, chief executive of Global Technical Solutions (GTS), has written a letter to town residents, expressing his frustrations with East Cowes Town Council (ECTC).

GTS has owned the castle since it was sold in 2015 but, apart from urgent repairs, has not restored the property.

The property firm has, in the last year, submitted proposals to the Isle of Wight Council to turn the listed castle and its outbuildings into a luxury hotel and spa facility.

The plans also include housing on the next-door Springhill Estate but are yet to be determined.

A public meeting was held in 2019 to present GTS's plans but since then Mr Wellington says he has made numerous attempts to hold another,  alongside the town council, to address points previously raised, but has been denied each time.

He believes the town council is failing in its duty by not allowing residents the opportunity to follow up on the previous public presentation.

Mr Wellington says all they want is to directly engage with the community, to explain merits of the scheme in a public forum and allow the town council the opportunity to ask questions.

ECTC has objected to the plans, raising concerns over the highway's impact on East Cowes Esplanade and the surrounding road network; impact on listed buildings and the landscape setting and long-term funding of listed building maintenance.

Mr Wellington, however, says ECTC is not responding to questions he has put to councillors over the objection, which he says is based on other parties' objections.

He was asking the town council whether it had any other objections which could not be addressed and if it had any viable alternative to save the 11 listed assets which are on the 'at risk' register.

Mr Wellington argues GTS's proposals for Norris are the only long-term solution to safeguard the assets for future generations.

Responding to Mr Wellington, the town council said GTS had not asked to hire the town hall, which he is at liberty to do.

However, it would not participate in any meeting.

It said it has repeatedly told Mr Wellington its position has not changed on the application and only if the plans were varied would ECTC make further comments.

ECTC pointed out it is only a statutory consultee and the Isle of Wight Council would make the final decision.

The town council said communication from Mr Wellington keeps raising the same issues.

It will now be kept on file and not responded to — the same as with any other person.