My land backs onto the old Weston Academy in Totland.

For more than five years the site has been vacant and is dilapidating rapidly.

I approached the Isle of Wight Council last year with a plan to buy the playground and restore the quality of the surfacing and fencing and convert into a community basketball court and club.

I would have shouldered all the financial cost for the resurfacing work as well as the administration for the club.

I also suggested the possibility of including tennis court markings and a net.

The council have rejected this proposal along the grounds that there are sufficient resources in the area.

The truth is that the council would prefer a dilapidated vacant site than a financial boost for the budget and a healthy facility for local children and young people.

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