Local residents and businesses expressed outrage last night (Tuesday) after it was confirmed that there would be no pedestrian access to the seafront in Ventnor via Shore Hill from 4th September until the Easter holidays next year.
Rene Howe Walk, the pedestrian path that runs around the Ventnor Cascade, will be shut for 27 weeks from 4th September so that 140 metres of railings can be replaced and the pathway resurfaced.
Shore Hill will remain open to vehicles throughout although there will be 2 periods when temporary traffic lights will be in place. It was not specified when and for how long these will be.
Loud mutterings followed the announcement that there will be no signposting of alternative pedestrian routes as none of them are accessible for disabled users.
Members of the public pointed out that this would surely encourage pedestrians to simply walk up and down Shore Hill, which will continue to be used by vehicles and prompted fears about safety, with participants in the discussion predicting ‘chaos’ and accidents.
It also means that disabled users will be effectively barred from accessing Ventnor seafront without using a vehicle.
However, reduced parking space in both Eastern Esplanade and La Falaise car parks, due to the Ventnor Coastal Protection and Slope Stabilisation Scheme, means that there are now limited options for parking.
A member of the public suggested that a shuttle could be operated to ferry pedestrians safely up and down Shore Hill, which did not seem to have been previously considered but the representatives from Island Roads repeatedly encouraged members of the public to contact them with such suggestions, calling the meeting a ‘consultation’.
However, when 1 member of the public asked if that meant works would not necessarily start on 4th September they were swiftly told that was not the case and that works will begin regardless of any suggestions received.
Business owners also complained vehemently about the impact this would have on their trade as those who are able to do so – and are aware of the alternative routes that will not be signposted – will now face a circuitous walk from the town centre.
It was asked whether Island Roads could speed up the process by working on weekends but the response was that they had a ‘policy of working 5 days a week.’
There will also be a planned 2-week break in works over the Christmas and New Year period.
Despite the short notice given to locals about the impending works, it was actually last year that Island Roads carried out the inspections which determined that the current railings needed to be replaced and they have been in conversations ‘for some time’ about how best to proceed.
The design of the new railings – which was slammed as ‘unacceptable’ by 1 member of the public – comply with modern safety standards and Island Roads said that the fully galvanised steel to be used means that there would be ‘no deterioration for a good 100 years.’
It was also announced that Bath Road – an alternative route down to the seafront – will be closed for 3 weeks between 13th November and 1st December.
No doubt Island Roads will choose the most expensive railings they can find like those hideous ones they have put down Alpine road ant those past the Botanic Gardens. Why can’t they replace like with like? Simple answer is to divert vehicular trafic down the Chicken Pit by reversing the flow along Belgrave Road and closing the Cascade and make it pedestrian only. If they need to get construction vehicles down to the Esplanade they could temporarily close the Cascade to pedestrians until the vehicles are clear
How about we employ a company who can do it in a normal time scale. Island roads is so unorganised it’s unbelievable. And the arguments for they take their time to do it right is questionable
No doubt its the same old fish wives complaining
What’s the betting the works will overrun and Island Roads will have loads of
Operatives watching 1 man work while the others Vape, Smoke, Eat and play with
their mobile phones.
What a Joke.
Pedestrians will walk in the Road to access the Seafront.
Bizarre definition of a “consultation’.
Let’s be clear, we MUST have pedestrian access. How is that even up for discussion?
Island roads are the worst company in the UK. Utterly incompetent.
Is Island Roads owned by Sadiq Khan because they are not listening to people.
“Island Roads said that the fully galvanised steel to be used means that there would be ‘no deterioration for a good 100 years.’”
I hope that comment is well noted, so that when the railings start to rust after 2-3 years, IR canbe held to account
Don’t worry there back up crew Isle of Wight Council, will come up with a shoddy explanation to explain why a company that they are meant to employ! But it seems 100%to be the other way around! What company involved in roadworkng gets to say”we only work 5 days a week”on The North Isle they work 7 days a week until job is done! Get a grip Isle of Wight Council show a bit of backbone and tell them “unacceptable”.
“the pedestrian path …, will be shut for 27 weeks from 4th September so that 140 metres of railings can be replaced and the pathway resurfaced.”
Thats 1 whole day for each meter of path,…
WTF are they using, … a kiddies bucket & spade ??
I thought that, too. Imagine if Island Roads were commissioned to build the new super-highway across Dubai; most of us would die before it was finished.
Knowing a little about civil engineering 26 returnweeks is an extraordinary amount of time to do what in basic terms is a bread and butter repair.In the past If I was quoting for this work I would suggest a period of 4 to 6 weeks with a weeks contingency for unforeseen issues which happen on any construction.
Island roads is a council run, they do not have to quote for work and the repairs were not put out to competitive tendering, This does not return the best value for the tax payer and further if a private company successfully bid for the work specific time restrictions could be placed on the contract with financial penalties for non compliance. Will they turn up at 9am and finish at 5pm, i doubt it.
“policy of working 5 days a week” ! On the mainland contractors would work extended hours even 24/7 and I cant believe would take 27 weeks to complete such a job then there’s the over run due to the wrong sort of rain, wind, sun, fog, Ice, being too hot and too cold.
They have the ferry syndrome. We’re the only ones who can do it, so we’ll do what we want, when we want, and charge what we want. Externalities don’t exist in our world.
27 weeks for 140 metres of pathway? That’s an extraordinarily crazy timescale.
I’ve lived in other places around the UK, like many of us have, but the length of time that work takes on projects such as this on the Island is beyond belief. It simply wouldn’t, or wouldn’t be allowed, to happen anywhere else.
Surely Island Roads must be accountable to someone? Their contract is with the Council, I presume. Shouldn’t the Council be stepping in and telling Island Roads that this just isn’t acceptable? Or are Island Roads completely autonomous and that is the problem?
No. A useless IWC staffed by people who rarely (and then barely) do their own jobs can hardly sanction another department for doing the same thing.
None of this will affect you directly. Island roads are the contractor, simple. The council has no leverage. Who else could do the work? In Portsmouth the council forks out 2/3 times for the same work. It’s an issue across England. It doesn’t matter. It’s how the system works. We’re not in a war. No big deal. It will look great when it’s done by which time there will be other stuff to moan about
27 weeks “wow” i suppose we could canoe down the cascade
Hilarious! What, change something on the island? As far as I’m aware there are alternative routes to the beach but really, who visits regularly during winter anyway. Most of the businesses close and those that don’t run pathetic hours. Try getting a coffee after four even in mid summer. It’s like they dont want customers. I’m a regular in ventnor. This will make no difference to me whatsoever. But what if, what if? Disabled people can safely use the road if they’re that bothered. Stop catastrophising over very little.
So Bestys very popular breakfasts, the Met, the Mill Bays excellent Sunday Roast and fish n chips, and the Spyglass all have patronage throughout the autumn and winter. Particularly over Christmas and new year. Their regular and non regular patrons can all go to hell I suppose. It’s clear the arrogance of Island Roads is down to the fact they’re paid regardless of how badly they behave and don’t have the slightest clue about having to run a business.
What became clear from the meeting was the fact that the decision not to signpost alternative routes was driven by the fact the alternative access routes, namely the one leading down to Cheetah Marine, have not been sufficiently maintained. This, of course, relieves all parties concerned of any liability in the event of an accident.