UPDATED: Work to create a turning head and access road for residents living in the Undercliff will not fully commence until at least August 2016 as an assessment of rare bats needs to be undertaken before trees can be felled.
A land swap deal with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust was agreed by the council’s Executive last night (Tuesday). The council will now take freehold ownership of an area of local woodland in exchange for council-owned land at Alverstone Mead, Sandown.
The purpose of the land swap is to enable the council and Island Roads to progress with plans to create a turning head and access road for residents at the Western end inland of the previous road line. However, it has been confirmed that work to remove trees on the land cannot begin until a season-long survey has been carried out to protect rare bats potentially roosting in the area.
A small number of trees, identified for removal within the proposed route have been identified as having the potential for rare bat habitation. Although rare woodland bat species in the area are known to include Bechstein’s and Barbastelle, there is no specific evidence to currently suggest that bats are roosting in the trees affected by the revised design. The Isle of Wight Council say they must act in a proper and responsible manner to ensure they do not negatively affect their habitat.
Following advice, including that of Natural England, Island Roads are required to undertake a season-long assessment of the area to see if it is, indeed used by the bats for such functions as feeding habitat, winter roost or summer maternity roost, which will be undertaken by specialist contractors. The survey needs to be undertaken when bats are most active and this work will be concluded in August 2016, meaning that work to install the turning head and access road cannot be fully completed until at least this time.
In the meantime, the council and Island Roads will begin aspects of the work that can be undertaken ahead of the survey to also create a pedestrian route that will enable residents to walk the route between Niton and Ventnor.
Phil Jordan, executive member for Public Health, Public Protection and PFI, said:
“In order to provide any sort of access for residents at the Undercliff we need to realign the route of the road which is most effectively done using land currently owned by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust. With its kind agreement to acquire their land, we now have the best opportunity to create a successful and essential new road at Undercliff.
Article continues below this advertisement “We must also, however, deal with the contaminated materials deposited by some residents in the area, which will have an impact on the completion of the planned works.”
Residents of Undercliff Drive continue to be kept closely informed of these developments and of the work that can now be progressed.
UPDATE THURSDAY: Leading Isle of Wight Councillors have today express frustration at possible further delays to the planned works at Undercliff Drive.
Councillor Jonathan Bacon, Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“The latest suggestion of further delays to the Undercliff Drive scheme is not acceptable to the administration and the council remains committed to delivering the promised vehicular access to the premises at Undercliff Drive.
“We have therefore instructed officers to identify at the earliest opportunity, alternative schemes which can be implemented without further delay and within the available budget.”
