Specialist hi-tech equipment that will monitor any ongoing movement in and around Leeson Road in Ventnor is being installed, but there is more work to be done and there is still no indication as to how long the monitoring will continue for. Island Roads staff have been working with site investigation experts SOCOTEC to install monitoring equipment that will measure and record lateral and rotational ground movement. The data gathered will help Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council make informed decisions about the future of Leeson Road, although there is no suggestion of when this might be. The array comprises of 3 extensometers to measure and record changes to visible cracking and 22 tiltmeters recording rotational ground movement. However, 3 global navigation satellite sensors providing remote monitoring of vertical and horizontal land movement are yet to be installed. Stephen Ashman, Island Roads service director, has said:
“It is vital that any future decisions made about Leeson Road are based on the most accurate data and understanding of the ground conditions at this location. “The various equipment installed last week will help us in that process.”
“It is also important to remember that the risk of further collapse is down to the wider geological movement in the area — not necessarily the weight of any traffic using it. Visually, the road surface may look perfectly fine but what we don’t currently know is what’s happening deeper underground. “This highly-sophisticated equipment will help us to peal back the layers to see the geological conditions underneath the road and whether there is voiding or further ground movement that could lead to a further catastrophic collapse.”
The upper section of Leeson Road has remained closed since a catastrophic landslip in December 2023 when 16 hectares — some 14 million cubic metres of land — was displaced in what was one of the largest landslides recorded on the South Coast of England. Since then, Ventnor residents have been calling for the important coastal road to and from Shanklin to be re-opened. The local authority will be addressing the current situation at Leeson Road, as well as other access issues currently affecting the town, during another public meeting in the town next month. More details will be announced shortly. 
What a fiasco, this should of been installed months ago, of course what with Jerk Jordan, nothing gets done properly now. Maybe someone should stand up and start ranting and finger pointing at him, after all if he can do it, why can’t we all. In the meantime the road through Wroxall continues to crumble, and the local Wroxall councillor has so far done nothing to find out how bad or how long the road is likely to last before that too needs repair.
Did you not read the previous reports from the geological experts? The rain over the past 6 months takes roughly 4 months to finish permeating the ground. Putting probes down would simply produce false readings.
The Wroxall road is simply an Island Roads failure to comply with the terms of their contract to repair every road. They are busy arguing they never said ‘every’. Meanwhile, on it rumbles everywhere.
Simply an Island Roads failure, how plain and simple that sounds. Increased traffic and more heavy goods vehicles are to blame, not just island roads.
Had it ever been resurfaced in the past 10 years, as was proposed originally it would be capable of withstanding heavy traffic just like any other B road on the island.
If you do some research (even on Island Echo) you can find how the council have reduced the money they put in to the PFI (by quite a bit) to save money! In turn this savings result in a reduced in service provided, would you do stuff you don’t get paid for? One of my customers wanted to reduce their bill from me so I can tell you I deliver a lot less to them each month!! I believe with the basic research on the internet you will find out how much they have removed yet are hiding behind the contract! Where is this money saved going?
This problem is not unique to Wroxall as the roads are crumbling all over the island. Island Roads are a disgrace.
Is being installed what have they been waiting for all this time?
Because it hasn’t stopped raining for 6 months. They did say.
I doubt the road will ever re-open just like the Undercliff.
So sorry for those who own property there. Few will buy now and those who do will want it with the risk factor being allowed for in the price.
Mortgages and insurance almost impossible for many now.
Let’s hope the equipment gives a glimmer of hope
Well they did buy houses on a landslip that has been active for thousands of years so they should hardly be surprised when movements occur.
I somehow suspect they were very much encouraged by some local estate agents!
Wouldn’t monitoring equipment be more useful if the road was open. No good testing the effects of a load without the load. Any movement would be noted in good time, wouldn’t it?
So you are basically suggesting that we test whether there is a risk of a further landslip destroying the road by actually driving on the road. Then when a bus falls down the cliff killing all of those on board you can say “Oh yes, it wasn’t safe”.