Businesses in the rural village of Niton were at the beginning of this week fearing an upcoming road closure just as the summer holidays approached, but the planned roadworks have now been postponed after concerns were raised with the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads.
It was initially planned that the main road from Ventnor to Niton through Whitwell – the diversion route for the already closed Undercliff Drive – would be closed each day during the week, excluding weekends, from Friday 22nd July until Monday 6th August.
Island Echo got in touch with Island Roads at the tail end of last week after Mandi O’Reilly contact us with her concerns over the potential loss of trade for not only The Buddle Inn, of which she is manager, but for other businesses in the local area.
Speaking to Island Echo last week, Mandi said:
“Niton has already lost its main route into the village as a result of the closure of Undercliff Drive in November 2013. It has never reopened and business’s in Niton have suffered because of this. The pub in the heart of the village has been closed and I’m sure the closure of Undercliff Drive will have had a profound effect on this happening.
“The village depends on tourism and we have approximately 16 weeks a year to make enough to sustain us so that we can stay open for our residents and offer them our services all year round. Some of the business’s here run on a very tight profit margin and losing 10 days out of our 16 weeks could break us”.
Now, following discussions between Island Roads and Isle of Wight Council, the resurfacing of Chatfield Road has been removed from the short-term highway improvement programme and therefore normal access will be maintained to Niton throughout the summer holidays.
Featured photo: Buddle Inn
