Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson says that the re-opening of Leeson Road in time for the Summer holidays has been achieved thanks to the whole community pulling together, but a long-term plan for the future of Ventnor’s roads is needed. As first reported by Island Echo, the main road connecting Shanklin to Ventnor re-opened at 10:00 this morning (Wednesday), albeit under temporary traffic lights and for a 7-week period. It comes some 7 months after a major landslide led to the closure of the A3055 over safety fears. Ventnor locals have been calling for the arterial route to re-open ever since but, despite a lack of land movement and desperate calls from residents and businesses, the road has remained shut up until now. In May, then-Government Minister Greg Hands paid a visit to Leeson Road with Joe Robertson and local councillors where the plight of the residents of Ventnor was made clear, as was the need for central Government funding. 
During his election campaign, Mr Robertson rallied for the opening of Ventnor’s roads, stating that closures were ‘crippling’ the local area and that Island Roads and the Council had been slow in taking action. Commenting on this week’s positive news, which was first reported by Island Echo, Joe Robertson MP has said:
“I am very pleased that Leeson Road will be reopening without further delay. This should have happened several months ago but I nevertheless want to thank the Council and Island Roads for listening to the voices of residents and opening the road in time for the summer holidays. “Together with local councillors Ed Blake and Rodney Downer I have been campaigning to get Leeson Road reopened since the beginning of the year. We have attended public meetings, met with local residents and lobbied the Council and Island Roads. In May I brought a Government Minister to look at the landslip to keep the issue high on the agenda. “As recently as last week there was a possibility that Leeson Road would only reopen for certain hours of the day but thanks to direct negotiation by Ed Blake, this will be a complete reopening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. “Reopening Leeson Road in time for the summer holidays would never have been achieved without the whole community pulling together and other key local people such as David Groocock, who stood as an election candidate to raise awareness for Ventnor’s roads. “We now need to ensure that all Ventnor’s roads are open with a long-term plan for the future as the underlying geological and climatic conditions remain unchanged”.
No sh*t Sherlock!
What is your next statement, that the ferry companies charge too much?
At least doing better job than the ruining bob!
He’s not done anything yet. Bob was always up for the photo opportunity. Bob would have sorted the problem with his bare hands, so he would have led you to believe.
Every man has an innate desire to enter chimp mode, and every day with the number of temporary traffic lights ever growing, that desire grows ever stronger.
Perhaps Joe could confirm or deny the rumours that the Conservatives and Reform are going to combine.
Once they can agree on what to call the new party as Reform want it named ‘ Recon, yet the Tories want it named ‘Conform’
Whatever a sure fire vote wining combo for when Labour have a vote of ‘No confidence’ in a couple of dire years time.
Maybe just keep it simple and call themselves the Fascist party or the New Nazis. As if they would combine. What total rot.
Joe how about tackling speeding on the Island?????
I think you’ll find that’s the job of the police.
They are employed by the Government
question if someone can answer please
so it opened yesterday at 10am.
is it now open 24/7 until it re closes fir boring?
sorry for tge strange question but i was told it will close at 10pm each night?
am I wrong or right
It’s open 24/7 until 8th September
Thank you maria
And thanks for the thumbs down for asking a simple question to the others
as the article says (if you read it)
“As recently as last week there was a possibility that Leeson Road would only reopen for certain hours of the day but thanks to direct negotiation by Ed Blake, this will be a complete reopening 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
No I didn’t read it. I was busy at work so thought id just ask as i dont have time to tead all articles on here
It’s open 24 hours a day, but not at night
Lol
oh bl00dy hell,.. it speaks
(I was expecting him to be silent for the next 3 1/2 years, until the next GE was coming up, & them start popping up everywhere, like his CONservative predecessor,…)
I love the (CONservative) way he’s trying to claim it was him that got it opened
“Together with local councillors … I have been campaigning to get Leeson Road reopened since the beginning of the year. We have attended public meetings, met with local residents and lobbied the Council and Island Roads. In May I brought a Government Minister to look at the landslip to keep the issue high on the agenda.”
Er, thats what politicians do, they lobby on your behalf.
Straight out of the Bob the Sausage book of how to grab headlines!
Well done Ed Blake and Keep Ventnor Moving…. it got the Council Leader focussed!! We need a plan for the whole of the A3055, these closure events and the distress and cost they cause, emphasis that the whole road, including Undercliff Drive need to be open…. so Robertson teaming up with Quigley is a good idea to make that happen…… why not rebrand the road Queen Victoria’s Great Coast Road, sign post and celebrate it, and there are huge amounts to celebrate…. if that can happen, it stiffens the argument for additional funding from central government and long term planning….the A3055 should be a national icon….
Am I the only one who’s nervous here? The damn thing is still moving and could go at any moment.
Fair play to Ed Blake, David Groocock and Joe Robertson. They have managed to lobby and put pressure on councillors to tackle Island Roads about their incompetence and sheer lack of urgency to see businesses both sides of the Ventnor and Shanklin suffering. These 6 weeks are crucial for the majority of businesses to make their money during the summer hols. As for Phil Jordan.. You’re history sunshine! Trying to take all the glory for the opening. You’re out of your depth. Very appropriate saying from a local fisherman.
so island roads has got 7 weeks to fill in all the potholes on the b3327 through Wroxall before we have to go back to that road bet they dont get any done