LANDSLIP DESTROYS HOME AND LEAVES 2 OTHERS PRECARIOUSLY HANGING ON IN ST LAWRENCE

A St Lawrence home has been destroyed by a significant landslip that has left 2 other properties precariously hanging on. It was on Saturday that the occupants of Old Park Lodge began evacuating after the land surrounding their home – Charles Wood – began to move, causing significant concern. Cracks began to appear in the road and Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks were called in to fix an underground cable on nearby Hunts Road, as reported by Island Echo. Now, the situation has dramatically worsened with Island Echo drone photographs revealing that the land has moved considerably more since the weekend. Not only have the residential gardens slipped away, but a large section of nearby woodland too. Old Park Lodge has been destroyed, with access along the top Old Park Road carriageway severed. The road now resembles a rollercoaster. Signs have been erected to warn people of the danger. On Hunts Road, which sits directly below Undercliff Drive, the gardens of 2 properties have dropped several feet leaving chasm-like cracks in the earth. Residents have been seen hurriedly moving possessions into vehicles, wondering if or when they will be able to return home. Island Echo understands that the Isle of Wight Council was called out to Hunts Road last night (Monday) after the situation deteriorated. It comes just weeks after smaller landslips at Gills Cliff Road and Zig Zag Road in nearby Ventnor, and movement at Rylestone Gardens in Shanklin. The South Wight is still coming to terms with a major landslide – described as one of the largest recorded in the South – at Bonchurch back in December, which has led to the long-term closure of Leeson Road. The local authority has been anticipating land movement as a result of the record-breaking rainfall recorded in October and November last year. The Isle of Wight Council has been approached for a statement.