Residents living in parts of Ventnor say they have become ‘prisoners’ due to a lack of public transport owing to a major landslide. No Southern Vectis buses are currently running along the length of Leeson Road, which connects Ventnor and Shanklin, after December’s landslide forced the closure of the road for safety reasons. A small minibus service, provided by Ventnor Town Council, runs on Tuesday and Friday mornings only. Residents who rely on public transport say they have become isolated, and Ventnor Town Council is considering adding more services to support them. Concerns were raised at a town council meeting on Tuesday, where 1 resident — who was representing older people and Leeson Road residents who don’t drive — said they are ‘prisoners up there’. He said:
“It is really unfair, the road has just been left. The residents are isolated and desperate for transport.”
He said a neighbour has been stocking up on food for a fortnight, hoping it will last, because the added price of a taxi means it is too expensive to shop weekly. 
For those who don’t drive, it was said to be continually difficult to arrange doctor’s appointments on the few days the bus is running. Councillor Steve Milford has been leading negotiations to see if the 31 service — operated by Tops Taxis on behalf of Ventnor Town Council for more than a decade — can be extended to more days or for longer hours. He said the Isle of Wight Council has offered a grant of between £10,000 and £15,000 to provide services. Councillors encouraged residents to use the service, to show demand for the bus is there. The town council is hoping for more answers about the future of Leeson Road from the Isle of Wight Council at a meeting next Thursday (29th February). It will be held at St Catherine’s Church from 18:00 and multiple agencies will provide updates on local projects. Councillor Steph Toogood asked if signs at the top of Shanklin High Street can be changed in time for the tourist season, to say Ventnor is still open for business.
No one cares if it’s the elderly
Why is it everyone else’s fault? If you live in Ventnor you must be properly prepared for this! Your town council that likes to take your money needs to step up to the plate right now! I am fed up with this as I know people of Ventnor won’t give a dam for other towns if they need help! Get out and fill your cupboards, fill your stores and help yourself! Signs at shanklin but who going to pay for them? Definitely not VTC because it’s not their job is it?
What £10-000 to £15-000 from the iow council??????
With the size of the houses down there i can’t believe they cannot afford to pay for their own transport!!!!!!!
Surely they could share a taxi and then get a bus ?
How did they manage before?????
Don’t see why the tax payer’s should subsidise this ….
What with all the cuts the council are making, and the rise in our council tax…..
Totally ridiculous……
High time this road was reopened. The Military Road between Compton and Freshwater is fully open without even a speed limit and that road is far closer to a crumbling chalk cliff than Leeson road is to the landslip so I can no longer see the need for this closure. Can’t the council install some strain gauges in the road surface linked to traffic lights?
Councillors encouraged residents to use the service, to show demand for the bus is there.
clearly they arent using it – if they were, it would run more often, as it would pay for itself
Bet council tax won’t go down in Ventnor,
also so many businesses are losing trade, bet their business rates won’t go down.
Get a car like normal people
Sainsburys are still delivering shopping to Leeson road, so they can order on line and have it delivered.
Well the drug dealers are using more fuel having to drive the long way round adding to the misery for many I guess
If anyone reads the contract and how the IWC have removed so much from the PFI maybe the keyboard warriors will actually support the contract that is actually trying to meet the demands that are on a shoe string from the council that keeps putting up our council tax for what?