DESPAIR AS LEESON ROAD TO REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AFTER DECEMBER’S LANDSLIDE

Leeson Road – the main road connecting Shanklin to Ventnor – is to remain closed for the foreseeable future after last year’s major landslide, the Isle of Wight Council has revealed at a packed-out meeting tonight (Thursday). Back in early December, a devastating landslide hit the Bonchurch area resulting in a huge section of the coastline falling away. This left Leeson Road vulnerable, prompting its immediate closure to all traffic. The local authority at the time stated that the road would remain closed until at least January as monitoring and technical investigations into the stability of the land got underway, but gave no guarantees that the A3055 would re-open at that time. During a heated public meeting held in Ventnor this evening (Thursday), in which local residents were given an update on the situation, the Council confirmed that the area remains unsafe and will remain closed, but no timeframe has been given as to when it will reopen – suggesting it could be several months, if not longer. It’s known a traffic regulation order is in place to keep the road closed until 31st May. It’s said that when the road does finally reopen, it will likely be under some level of traffic movement restriction. Over 400 people keen to hear tonight’s update fought for a seat in the packed-out St Catherine’s Church, with a queue forming down the road. Some residents were turned away. Those present heard that an independent investigation and risk assessment has found that there is a risk of further landslides, both short term and long term. It is recommended that a 20m buffer zone is maintained around the active zone, which impacts the main A3055 by the Smuggler’s Haven. Island Roads says that the proximity of the exposed rear scarp gives significant cause for concern, investigation and assessment, but it has been confirmed that the integrity of the road hasn’t yet been affected. It has been confirmed that monitoring equipment has still not yet been installed but will be installed – 100m into the ground – later this month to enable remote monitoring and the facility for automatic road closure. Initially, it was said that the situation at Leeson Road would be monitored ‘over the coming days’ and, if there was no evidence of further movement, the road would re-open. But the local authority seems to have backtracked on this. Residents have raised concerns that the A3055 will become like Undercliff Drive, which was closed 10 years ago after a landslide hit. Earlier this month, Southern Vectis released a revised timetable for its Route 3 buses to take into account the current diversion via Wroxall. It would seem that the Island’s bus company had an idea that the road wouldn’t be reopening anytime soon… Buses are currently unable to serve between Shanklin Daish Hotel and Chimney Steps.