An iconic Isle of Wight road — dubbed one of the most scenic drives in the country by Visit England — could be left to collapse when its future is decided tomorrow (Tuesday) by the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee.
Plans to stabilise part of the iconic Military Road are being recommended for refusal because council officers say there are significant environmental impacts.
Highways contractor, Island Roads, wants to build a 26-metre-long wall, drilling 21 metres into the ground to install piles, to further prevent the cliff edge from collapsing.
It says it is a temporary measure until a long-term solution is found.
The plans were first submitted 3 years ago and are a key part of the 25-year-long Highways PFI contract.
Part of the scenic drive, between Brook and Hanover Point, is less than 5 metres away from the cliff edge and Island Roads says the road could be at risk within 7 years if the current rate of erosion continues.
This particular part of Military Road is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as being a Special Area of Conservation; a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Tennyson Heritage Cost.
Those opposed to the plan, commenting on the Isle of Wight Council’s website, say the stretch of coastline should be left to erode and have called for no money to be spent on coastal defences there. Instead, they want the iconic road to be rerouted. The National Trust owns this part of the West Wight.
A spokesperson said:
“We’re still very much at the discussion stage with the Council [about re-routing the road]. It’s a complex negotiation.”
Other concerns have been raised about the loss of habitat and the geological and archaeological risks.
Read the full planning report here: https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s12830/20-01281-FUL%20Site%2014%20Military%20Road%20Brook.pdf
This particular part of Military Road is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as being a Special Area of Conservation; a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Tennyson Heritage Cost.
ha – and in the not too distant future, it will be all part of the beach and seabed, frequented only by aquatic life and birds
Isn’t that just nature at work though?
yep – and it makes a mockery of these clowns that talk of the area being a special area of conservation, as nature will wreck it and dump it all into the sea.
Surely it is cheaper to move the road again.
again ? when in the last decades has that ever happened?..yes move it or repaur but dont let fall into the sea then cannot use the road no more its all this crap island has left to offer ..stupid bloody enviro mentals ist..all they do is talk crap ..
ye about right from this useless corrupt council..well done to all great as only income comes from tourism..which is a joke on this nackered old isle,they takes the monies but won,t invest in anything.Still kepp taking the wages you give yourselves.Merry bloody christmas.
Not so wasy think youll find The National Trust owns the land & there not gonna give up the land that easy fear the road will go before the battle for land os over
national trust don’t own the land in reality – nature owns it and nature is going to put all that land in the sea soon enough- then the national trust will be aware of how weak it is, compared to nature, that is really pulling the strings here.
Other concerns have been raised about the loss of habitat and the geological and archaeological risks..what utter crap but its ok if it to fall into the sea bloody stupid twats.
Agreed . Loss of habitat for what – a few rabbit’s,few butterflies and rodent’s, no red squirrel,not lizard or snake, nothing rare. When collapse it will remove far more than a small wall. Tourists love this area, gone! Then so tourists and less revenue to the Island.
Although a great loss to the sea, at least it may keep some of the Freshwater vandals from spreading East.
Also, if it doesn’t fall into the sea. how long before Captiva build eco homes, the prefix making them sound less damaging?
And, all those moaning about boy racers along that stretch will find the Police will have to get their speeding fines from another source, likely some old granny doing 34 in a 30 zone.
There are bronze age burial mounds and rare flowers inland, so the destruction of such would be unacceptable.
Few need or want to go to Freshwater anyway, and surfers only gripe about sewage.
See the good not just the bad if it isn’t funded
That’s because the plan for the future is to get all vehicles off the road.
True.
THEY can all foff..
Tell that to Schwab and Gates
So the IOW Council are likely to say no because of “significant environmental impacts’ and yet at the same time are allowing developers to build housing estates on greenfield sites and increase the raw sewage discharged into the ‘specially protected, marine conservation zone’ around the Island.
Our council is a pathetic joke, given up on linking Ventnor back to Niton, removal of public toilets, floating bridge, now this, sack all the deadwood and use the money on actual services instead.
So the planning deportment of council says there are environmental impacts, but they have no problem with developers building on green field sites.
”It says it is a temporary measure until a long-term solution is found.”… a long term solution? what would that be, sitting on the beach, Canute like, trying in vain to turn back the tide? just let nature claim the road and have a peaceful stretch of beautiful coastline.
As always it is all about money. Forget the flannel about “environmental impacts”, it is simply about the money.
Let it fall, at least it will stop the idiots racing along there. Normal drivers would use internal roads anyway.
Erm where do you think the “idiot drivers” will be driving if the road is gone?
We can’t afford to lose this asset; one of the most beautiful drives on the planet and a useful route for Islanders. I suggest a compulsory purchase of National Trust Land to the north and route the road 50 metres further inland – it’s got to be the cheapest. most sensible and most obvious option.
Yet they will spend millions on the floating disaster
Where is the guy who always is spouting on about gabion cages when you need him ????
Just last year the national trust told everyone about their plans to put a new toilet block and roundabout in Compton car park ~
https://www.islandecho.co.uk/big-plans-for-compton-beauty-spot-revealled-by-national-trust/
But once the road falls in the sea both sides of the car park who is going to be able to use it.?
They must have a plan in place to build their own roadway to this car park.?
Temporary solutions are a waste of money since it has taken 3 years to decide on it, and in 7 years they will be gone.
Shouldn’t the council have been well aware of the impacts of cliff erosion many years ago and have a future strategy in place?
Is today’s meeting open to the public and if so, where and at what time is it being held?
Well if they’re happy to allow it to go the way of the Niton Undercliffe. The locals are gonna love the permanent diversion through Afton – Middle Road – Chessell – Brook.
Far as I’m concerned, the whole island can fall into the sea. The place is getting more and more run down, it’s becoming a dump
We all know where this is going. Similar to the Councils failure to provide funding to fix a 100 yard stretch of the Undercliff resulting in its closure they will leave Milly Road to collapse with a similar outcome. This will mean more traffic on alternative routes yet with more house building adding to the number of vehicles on our existing roads. Ridiculous short sightedness.
I think the answer lies in the origional comment, ‘a key part of the 25-year-long Highways PFI contract’ so that won’t be happening then!
they need all the cash they can get to pay there high wages
In the past year or two I’ve come to the conclusion that our own council is actually planning to sabotage our island. They want it run down and degraded, they want to remove essential services, and they don’t give a monkeys about one of the most iconic tourist magnetising roads in the UK. They’ll ruin it all. As a 4th generation islander I am appalled at their lack of financially sound reasoning, planning and action. It’s run by a bunch of cretins more interested in their own pockets and their friends pockets while polishing their own ego’s. How much longer do we let them screw us all over?
100% agree
I would make the whole island permit parking and the monies
raised could be used on such projects.
Also they could re-open the undercliff to Niton.
Permit parking would raise millions of pounds annually
Charge by vehicle size.
Cars pay a certain fee
Van’s slightly more etc etc
Bring it on.
No one is interested in this stupid idea.