Another part of the seawall has collapsed along a popular Isle of Wight seafront walkway.
Following the strong winds in Storm Noa last month— which reached gusts of 96.9mph at the Needles — more damage has been caused to the Eastern Cliffs Esplanade, in Ventnor.
The seafront walk from Ventnor to Bonchurch has already been restricted, but there could now be further delays before the route opens fully again. The lower apron of the walkway has ‘collapsed entirely’ into the sea, Tash Dix, the Isle of Wight Council’s strategic manager for the environment revealed last week.
Speaking at the neighbourhood and regeneration scrutiny committee, Ms Dix said the further damage has complicated matters and there may be some delays.
The wall along Eastern Cliffs Esplanade was constructed in 1955 and provides flood and coastal erosion protection to Ventnor.
Over 65 years later, there are many holes in it and material has been washed out, increasing the risk of erosion and landslips.
The first major problem occurred in November, when the revetment first failed, collapsing inwards. It uncovered and undermined a raw sewage pipe, Ms Dix said, and led to fears the pipe may break or fracture, releasing its contents into the water. The council then filled the void with specially engineered rock bags but announced it would keep the esplanade shut for the rest of the year so more work could be done.
Emergency works were completed, as agreed with the Environment Agency, moving onto a stage of urgent works when the lower apron collapsed at the end of April.
The authority has been working on plans to prevent more damage and provide longer-term protection to the walkway.
A licence for the urgent repair works is currently being sought by the council from the Marine Management Organisation.
It is thought the further work would take 30 weeks to complete and is hoped to be started straightaway, ahead of the winter. Under the licence, the council could have until the end of January next year to complete the works.
The site is being monitored on a daily basis.
Another community meeting is proposed with residents, the coastal team and Ventnor Town Council. The council is asking residents to respect the construction site fencing and not attempt to enter the dangerous area.
There is an inland diversion from Ventnor to Wheeler’s Bay.
Message to the Council. You promised at the last meeting there would be much more signage to direct people to the alternative route. This hasn’t happened and people ask me daily how to get to the esplanade. Also the only yellow sign has been moved from the flat walkway between the chalets to unmanagable steep steps ,covered in overgrown foliage.Please attend to this post haste!
Gabion cages, constructed from 8mm stainless steel mesh, filled with local rocks would prevent more damage and give those repairing the sea wall protection from waves.
Cheap, easy to use, very environmentally friendly as no carbon dioxide as with concrete, and soon covered by seaweed to blend into any place they are affixed.
So of course they will not be used, instead months of expensive consultation, more damage as this talk and no action continues, and then a firm able to say thank you the loudest, not necessarily the best will get the contract, which we will all pay over the odds for.
Pity it was left with a temporary ‘fix’, should have been repaired properly straight after the original damage.
This won’t get fixed, not while the VTC are arguing amongst themselves and to busy “bullying” each other. Toogood to be true isn’t it.
The wall along Eastern Cliffs Esplanade was constructed in 1955 and provides flood and coastal erosion protection to Ventnor.
Over 65 years later, there are many holes in it and material has been washed out, increasing the risk of erosion and landslips.
…
in other words, the council has failed to adequately maintain the wall, over decades and most probably spent the money on some vanity project or higher salaries.
the fault of this issue sits squarely with the council
Maybe a cable ride from Bonchurch to Ventnor, just like Alum Bay, could be a good investment…let’s start fund raiser now.?