Leeson Road – the main road connecting Shanklin to Ventnor – is to finally re-open to traffic tomorrow (Wednesday), the Isle of Wight Council has confirmed. It was in December last year – some 7 months ago – that a major landslide hit the Bonchurch area, leading to concerns for the safety of road users travelling along the A3055. Residents and businesses of Ventnor have been calling for the road to re-open ever since due to the negative impact it is having on day-to-day life, and the fact that there have been no further landslides and the road has remained stable throughout. Despite a lack of land movement and desperate calls from locals, plus wider traffic issues, the road has remained firmly closed – although emergency services have been using the route. Earlier this month Island Echo reported that boreholes still needed to be drilled – expected to take place in August – to allow further monitoring ahead of a decision being made on the future of the road in the Autumn. 
Now, in a sudden u-turn, it has been confirmed that Leeson Road will re-open to all traffic in both directions in time for the Summer holidays – but under temporary traffic lights and for a 7-week period only. Island Echo understands that an operative will be present on site 24 hours a day to allow for immediate closure of the road, should it be needed – at significant cost to the public purse. Leeson Road will officially re-open at 10:00 tomorrow morning (Wednesday) and close again at 22:00 on Sunday 8th September. Southern Vectis Route 3 buses are to resume a normal route from tomorrow morning, but Island Coaster will continue to run via Wroxall. From 9th September, the road will be closed again to allow the drilling of 3x 85m boreholes. These will allow Island Roads to understand the nature of the underlying geology in the area and also allow the additional monitoring equipment to be installed deep underground – something which should have taken place months ago. However, if the borehole work is not ready to start on 9th September, then the Summer holiday arrangement will stay in place until such time that the boreholes are ready to be drilled. Joe Robertson MP, for Isle of Wight East, has told Island Echo:
”I am very pleased that Leeson Road will be reopening without further delay. This should have happened several months ago but I nevertheless want to thank the Council and Island Roads for listening to the voices of residents and opening the road in time for the summer holidays”.
“As we have consistently said, it has always been our aim to restore access to Leeson Road as soon as it is safe to do so. “While there remains consistent, if currently minor, movement, we are confident that with the measures we will be putting in place and with electronic monitoring systems now in operation, the risk posed by the prospect of further significant movement is acceptable when balanced against the need to support the Ventnor community through the busy summer season. “It remains a key requirement to progress the next phase of monitoring which includes deep boreholes and the installation of monitoring equipment up to 85 metres below Leeson Road as this will allow the longer-term use of Leeson Road to be managed safely.”
It was last week that Island Echo heard whispers that an announcement about Leeson Road was imminent, with initial plans to open the road before the weekend. Both the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads were asked for statements on Thursday, but it’s only now that a response has been forthcoming as top-level discussions have continued in the past few days. The decision to re-open the road has been brought forward several months as the Council has taken over the control and insuring of the road themselves, according to Councillor Ed Blake. It’s unclear why this couldn’t have been done weeks, if not months ago, but no one will be complaining about the road re-opening sooner than expected, especially as Ventnor Fringe is set to get underway this Friday (19th July). It is unclear at this time how long the borehole drilling in September will take and when the road will permanently re-open – although it seems likely this won’t be until 2025…
