The Isle of Wight Council has confirmed that both Leeson Road and Newport Road in Ventnor are to remain closed ‘until further notice’ – with no indication of when either of the major routes will re-open to traffic. Leeson Road was closed by Police on Sunday night due to a major landslide, which has potentially put the main Shanklin to Ventnor route at risk of collapse. Meanwhile, on the other side of Ventnor, the road connecting Lower and Upper Ventnor has been closed due to a collapsed sewer. The local authority says it understands the levels of impact and disruption that these road closures are having on people’s lives and movements, and is seeking to find solutions in a ‘timely and safe manner’. Local rumour suggests that the emergency Southern Water works at The Grabem could last between 4 and 6 weeks. As for Leeson Road, the council says it will be monitoring the area in the coming days for any movement, with a view to re-opening the road if no further movement is detected. However, locals say they are concerned the road will end up closed for months or even years if things deteriorate – much like Undercliff Drive. 
“We are in constant dialogue with service providers to understand timescales in order to keep disruption to a minimum and seek to remove any road restrictions as soon as possible and when safe to do so. “In order to facilitate traffic flow in Bonchurch, Ventnor and the surrounding areas, diversions are currently in place. Island Roads have provided a map with suggested routes. “These traffic measures have been put in place to reflect the width of roads and the nature of the highways network in the area. We continue to work with Island Roads to understand the best way to manage traffic so roads can be used safely, and disruptions kept to a minimum. “At this time, we also want to reassure residents that all emergency services continue to have access to these areas and there are no expected delays should a need for these services arise”.
Southern Vectis is currently working on a revised shuttle bus timetable, allowing for a diversion route through Chale. Exact timetables for this route will be available on the Southern Vectis website. The Isle of Wight Council is reminding islanders to stay away from the landslide site and from the beach and foreshore below the landslide. Footpaths and rights of way remain closed, and signage has been installed to reiterate this message.
