Southern Water is to close a section of the Sandown to Newport cycle path for a period of 6 months as part of a project to protect a threatened eel.
Last month Island Echo reported that the popular path would close ‘for some months’ after the Isle of Wight Council expressed its frustration at the proposed closure following the re-opening of the path after a recent bridge replacement scheme.
The focus of the Eel Screens Programme is to protect a rare species of European Eel. The screens are a preventative measure that will prevent the fish from becoming trapped in Southern Water’s raw water system.
This work will take around 6 months to complete, meaning the path between Golf Links Road and Alverstone will be inaccessible throughout the summer months. Pedestrians, cyclist and horse riders will have to take a 1-mile diversion via the road.
It is unlikely that the path will be available for Mountbatten’s Walk the Wight flat walk, which has been moved from May to September.
A spokesperson for Southern Water has said:
“We are sorry for disruption caused by works to install eel screens at our Sandown River Intake site on the River Yar, which is part of Southern Water’s Eel Screens Programme, a £20million plus investment programme.
“To ensure we can complete this work safely it will be necessary to fully close the River Yar cycleway during the construction period, between the junctions with Longwood Lane and Alverstone Road.
Article continues below this advertisement “We’re aware that this is a cycle path is a public right of way and apologise for the inconvenience caused. An application for this closure has been made with Isle of Wight Council and a proposed diversion route for pedestrians and cyclists will need to be agreed by Isle of Wight Council. We thank everyone for their patience.”
Check your Calendar ECHO!
It is March, NOT April fools DAY.
I am sure as I pay more on my water bill, that to protect wildlife that I will never see will be worth it all.
are you actually for real gregory?
this makes perfect sense – it is an example of humans working to ensure that other lifeforms can live their lives as nature intended, without being harmed by humans.
just because you aren’t going to see those eels, doesn’t give you the right to be upset at efforts to preserve their habitat, whilst providing water services to you, so that you can live also.
All for helping nature, but green voluntary help should do this, not the water board at our expense.
Many safely use this path to get to Newport etc, and the roads are narrow, bendy and not lit and have the most appalling drops and broken edges.
Charity such as WWF should pay for equipment needed and then with free helper who could work at weekends and evenings, then their would be less complaints.
As being nice is lovely, but costly if high waged workers who should be fixing real water pipe issues, not playing at green issues are used.
So then dan – you offering southern water your services at no charge – bet not.
water board – what century do you live in?
I didn’t know eels could ride bikes!
Only on the flat as they dont like eels lol.
Omg wth! Really?how totally obsurd bikers dont stoo too pick up catch or handle any bloody eels.s water…your a bunch of imboseals.no need too close what so ever
OMG Wtf Les you really do need to read the article again you’ve made yourself look like a real t*t
Sure thing you retard
What a nonsense, come on IOW Council take control. Surely there must be a way of working around this. Do Southern Water need the path to park all their vans on ?