Business owners, residents and councillors in Ventnor have joined forces to launch a new group aimed at improving communication and planning around roadworks affecting the town.
The Ventnor Roads Group has been established following concerns raised by the Ventnor Traders Association about the impact that frequent road closures and utility works are having on local businesses, residents and visitors.
Traders say repeated roadworks, including those carried out by Island Roads and utility companies, have resulted in reduced footfall and lost income, with concerns also raised about poor communication, confusing diversion routes and multiple road closures taking place at the same time.
The newly formed group aims to provide a formal channel of communication between the community and those responsible for infrastructure works across the town.
Its objectives include documenting concerns, seeking earlier notification of planned roadworks, requesting clearer diversion signage and improving dialogue with Island Roads, the Isle of Wight Council and utility companies.
Ventnor Town Councillor, Karl Hunter said:
“This group represents a collective effort to ensure that those responsible for roadworks understand the real impact their decisions have on our community.
“We’re not here to obstruct necessary works, but to demand better communication, planning, and consideration for local businesses.”
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The Ventnor Roads Group is inviting both traders and residents to share their experiences and concerns about road disruptions as it begins discussions with the relevant organisations.
Those wishing to raise concerns or find out more about the initiative can contact Ventnor Town Councillor Karl Hunter at [email protected].
About time it was only a couple of years ago where
it was one road into Ventnor “ONLY”, businesses sadly
suffered.
Great idea, if it gets results!! Would also be good to include a comms route to help get roads repaired. Since St John’s in Wroxall was reopened I have been trying to find out when they are going to repair Leeson Road as it has deteriorated with the additional traffic that has used it and NOT because of any ground movement as confirmed by the surveyors that have been monitoring – though this is the excuse IR have used when they were contacted!
They need to crack on and sort out Bath Road that’s been closed for the best part of 3 years due to a dispute over the boundary, absolutely ridiculous.
Although a good idea I don’t quite understand why this is needed as the council has all the power when it comes to who, when and how long works can and will be carried out on its highways bar emergancy repairs. If utilities, island roads or anyone else want a permit to be able to carry those works and not the other way round.
Most councils have a Highways, Transport & Permitting teams who are supposed to work with the councils own contractors, utilities & developers to coordinate all road words across their road networks.
Holding regular quarterly NRSWA (New Roads & Street Works Act) meetings at the councils offices with all main utilities, Island Roads, bus operator(s), SWR, Ferry operators, Police, Fire, Ambulance services & local Cllrs to discuss up and coming planned works, long term utility upgrades and any works that may impact the islands roads to limit that impact and drive the best out come of those works for residents, businesses and visitors.
This also means not just giving into the demands of the utilities or even island roads by thinking outside the box.
Pushing for night working where possible or double shifted works especially during the spring/summer/autumn times when we have maximum daytime light not 9 or 10am to 4pm but maybe 2 shifts 7am to 7 or 8pm to get works completed quicker.
Where works are required and a full road closure is unavoidable then 24/7 working until completion, may not be popular but I would rather have 7 days non stop works outside my house than 4/5 weeks of utter chaos.
Long term better coordination with utilities for pipe upgrades, if gas are working along a road are the water pipes there due for upgrade and can they be done together under one shared license, one shared TM plan and even excavation & reinstatment works and better planning of diversion routes especially for buses and emergency services.
This would also lead to improved coordination of works across the islands network and best possible outcomes for durations of work times and shortest impacts to residents, businesses, traders, buses & visitors.
As a town Ventnor is finished, just like Sandown. Once the Graben goes again, and it won’t be long, and then the landslip, that will be it. Will the council fix the Graben properly, well no.