The next Isle of Wight Council administration must commission an independent review into the Highways PFI contract, following ongoing concerns over the handling of Firestone Copse Road, according to Councillor Ian Dore.
Although the road has now reopened, Councillor Dore says residents are still without ‘proper answers’ after weeks of reviewing correspondence, parish submissions, Freedom of Information material and resident evidence.
He states that the information disclosed so far fails to provide a clear and convincing justification for the closure, instead highlighting communication issues and leaving significant questions around decision-making and accountability.
Councillor Dore, Isle of Wight Councillor for Binstead and Fishbourne, who is standing for election again on 7th May, has said:
“What happened was not acceptable, and the next administration must act.
“Residents were entitled to clear answers and its been impossible to give them.”
Documents reviewed indicate that a one-way system had been proposed prior to the closure by Wootton, Fishbourne, and Havenstreet & Ashey parish councils. According to Councillor Dore, this was a repeated and documented suggestion, rather than a reaction after the event.
He also proposed a monitored one-way system at the time of closure, but says no formal options appraisal or clear decision record has been presented to residents.
Further concerns have been raised about how the closure operated. Residents reportedly submitted emails, photographs and reports suggesting vehicles continued to use the road while it was officially closed.
Councillor Dore questions how the closure was monitored and enforced if it was deemed the only safe option.
A meeting has now been arranged with Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council’s Service Director for Highways and Community Protection. However, Councillor Dore says this alone is not sufficient.
He said that such a meeting is not a ‘binding remedy’ and cannot replace formal democratic scrutiny or action by elected members following the election.
The concerns raised are not limited to Firestone Copse Road. Councillor Dore believes the issue reflects wider problems across the Isle of Wight, particularly in relation to the Highways PFI contract and the operation of the Council’s highways function.
He is now calling for an independent contract assurance review to be commissioned as an early priority by the next administration. This review should also examine oversight, integration and the overall operation of the Council’s highways department.
Councillor Dore concludes that while the road has reopened, the underlying concerns remain unresolved.
“The road has opened, but the issues and concerns are far from closed.”
Knocka wasting his time.
The real culprits here were Pugh, Brown and Jayawassisname.
Nothing can or will be done.
Island Roads are a law unto themselves thanks to those 3.
Does PFI mean Patronising fcuking idiots or
Private finance initiative
Lol
Does make one wonder at times!
As they are based in France your first comment is about on the money,and they couldn’t care less what havoc they wreak…
I think they are trying to get us off roads.
1st they tempted us to get EVs, now they don’t
want any vehicle on the road.
Ringway Island Roads are not based in France you moron.
Bellend
I know you are
Bless
Well done Ian. The only councillor to seriously question the IR daily debacle. Roads closed constantly over the last 3 years.
A company that’s taken months to move one caravan. Only to dump it on another road. No doubt we are still paying for the traffic management.
The council need to make all utilities and island road show there is no other option than a full road closure before to carryout the works they need to do before being issued a permit to work.
Due to the Islands road network and in most cases lack of short diversion options the council should be pushing for longer hours of day light working or even day & night working on high impact roads to get works completed in the least amount of time.
Maybe the councils head of highways and island roads ceo should take a trip to Japan and see how they deal with road works and resurfacing, they put the rest of the World to shame, once they start work they don’t stop until its completed no matter what and it works extremely well and all resurfacing is done at night.
You must be referring to the sinkholes in Japan that reappeared bigger than before just days after they rushed the repair jobs, requiring extended closures to repair them properly.
This article appears to be is in breach of the Pre-Election Period restriction on publicity which may sway voters in the forthcoming local election.
As is the one about Jules Hayward seeking “election” in Seaview, but who is counting.
As long as there are no advertorials for the disgusting Green Party.
Local government elections 2026The pre-election period for local authorities will start from the publication of a notice of election, this will be no later than Monday 30 March.
Local government sometimes views this period as a time when communications have to shut down completely. This is not the case, and the ordinary functions of councils can continue – such as factual information about elections – but some restrictions may be imposed by law. This guidance sets out what this means in practice.
Scheduled elections are being held on Thursday 7 May 2026.
I’m quite familiar with the guidance, thank you. My comment still stands. Not that the IWC’s Monitoring Officer will do anything about it.
Whoever is responsible for sorting out diversions when roadworks are in progress, they are either very thoughtless, stupid…or just don’t care about the effect of their misdirections. Or maybe just having a laugh. Continuing the chaos in Freshwater, there’s now a huge Road Closed sign on the corner of the mostly one way High Street where it leaves the Avenue. As it’s a one way, there is no other point of access for all the roads leading off from the High Street. So residents have to ignore it and technically break the law. Also the sign blocks one half of the road and causes real problems with traffic having to confront oncoming traffic from the short bit that isn’t one way. So why did they put that sign there,? Who is responsible and is there a spokesperson we can ask the simple questions of? I think we should be told, Echo.