Isle of Wight Councillors Ed Blake, Chris Quirk, and Michael Beston have expressed serious concerns regarding the forthcoming re-closure of Leeson Road in Ventnor, with calls to alter plans to keep the vital A-road open.
Leeson Road, which was reopened for the first time in 7 months back in July, following the landslip in December last year, will close again on Sunday (8th September). The re-closure of the road will sever off parts of Ventnor and Shanklin from the rest of the Island.
Although the Isle of Wight Council has said it aims to reopen the road by Christmas, it still means that the main road connecting Shanklin to Ventnor will be shut for another 11 weeks in the lead-up to Christmas, providing that the works remain on schedule during the wetter months.
Now, just days before Leeson Road is closed again, the 3 councillors have questioned the need for sinking 3 boreholes into the road to install more monitoring devices, when it could be positioned in private land adjacent instead – allowing the road to remain open.
It’s said that experts have scrutinised the plans and have put forward adjustments to the scheme that would keep the road safely open during the works. However, at a stakeholders meeting yesterday (Wednesday), senior council officers said they would look into the idea but would not confirm a delay to the planned works. This is despite all those present agreeing that the closure of the road will be to the detriment of the town of Ventnor.
It’s claimed that although the Council has previously stated that nearby landowners have been consulted, no such communication has actually occurred.
Councillor Ed Blake, ward member Ventnor and St Lawrence, has said:
“The road closure leaves Ventnor with a huge cloud over it, if the Graben goes down, we are left with just the Whitwell Road for access. This is a real possibility as it is so close to becoming impassable. Wroxall too is desperate for road works as their network is crumbling. Shanklin too will suffer particularly with the Sandown railway bridge closure disruption during September and October. Both Ventnor and Shanklin will basically turn into cul-de-sacs once more until Christmas”.
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Councillor Chris Quirk, whose district covers the South of Shanklin, adds:
“During the first road closure, Shanklin businesses were seriously impacted by the downturn in trade due to the Old Village effectively being closed off to vehicular traffic. That coupled with inappropriate road diversion signage exacerbated the situation.
“Whilst visitor numbers to the Island were down in the first quarter of the year, local businesses remain open and rely on the shoulder end of the year to make up for lost trade. Closing the Leeson Road once again will negatively affect this opportunity to trade in the late part of the year”.
Councillor Michael Beston, who represents Shanklin Central district, has said:
“This year has been exceptionally tough for Island businesses connected to the hospitality industry. Road connectivity is vitally important to our visitors when deciding where to book their holiday staycations. Limited road access only goes to deter that visitor from booking accommodation in the Bay or Ventnor areas.
“The planned works on the two railway bridges in Sandown, together with the entire closure of Island Line between Shanklin and Ryde Pier Head throughout September and October, and the closure of Leeson Road until December will be disastrous. You could not have planned a more perfect storm”.
