Horsebridge Hill has reopened following a 12-hour stand-off between emergency services and a man threatening to set fire to property.
Police were called at 21:57 on with concerns raised for the welfare of a man at an address in Horsebridge Hill.
Officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary attended the address with emergency service partners and engaged with the occupant of the property for a number of hours and into this morning (Thursday).
Island Echo understands that the male was threatening to cause damage to a property by setting it on fire.
Pumping appliances from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were on standby throughout the night, in case the threats came to fruition.
Thankfully, after around 12-hours on scene, the pensioner exited the premises and was passed into the care of the ambulance service and police.
Horsebridge Hill was closed between the junctions with Noke Common and Stag Lane, during the incident, with traffic in and around the area extremely heavy during the morning commute and school run.
Southern Vectis route 1 buses were also on diversion via Pallance Road.
The road has since reopened.
UPDATE @ 16:30 – Island Echo understands that the individual has been detained under the Mental Health Act.
I’m sure all the people having endured the long delays will be glad the road is now finally reopened.
I find the tactical thinking around these incidents baffling. If he had carried out his threat then the fire service would have risked their lives to extinquish the blaze and get him out in one piece, so why not armour up the tactical police unit, crash the door and take him out in all of 30 seconds, result , many thousands of pounds in emergency services costs saved.
12 hours? I know we don’t have many details but really 12 hours? I suspect the waiting was first someone in Portsmouth to wake up start their shift putter over on the ferry to make a decision. Lucky ended peaceful.
Hence build a bridge or tunnel.
No chance pal.
There may of been other people in the house?, Regardless of time/cost it ended with no reported injuries, the gentleman in question will now hopefully get the correct help.
Shocking that there are still not yet double yellow lines on Pallance road – every time horsebridge hill is closed (which is pretty regularly), Pallance road gets gridlocked due to drivers parking on both sides of the road.
Where would the residents park then? Force them to walk in the road with live traffic with no pavement? Think of everyone before yourself maybe.
12 hour’s to get one old biddy out of a house?!!! Yeah, great job. Pat on the back. Hundreds of people affected. Should’ve let him burn. One less nutter that’s cost thousands already and will be costing thousands more.
Also, why does no-one ever step in and organise the rerouted traffic?
Rew Street, which has been accessible for the last few weeks, was closed!! So thankyou to those workmen for making the traffic a million times worse and Pallance Road needs to be double yellow all the way down.
All late for work lose of wages ..where it was could of opened up layby to allow traffic to flow..but oh now …
So you would rather have someone burn to death than spend an extra bit of time in your nice warm car…mmm who is the real nutter here?
Always the same on the island. One road closed and everything stops. And the idiots want a tunnel to the mainland.
Maybe he was worried how he was going to keep warm because the shit show robbed him of his heating allowance but was happy pay the chavs thousands more