There will need to be ‘meaningful consultation’ before major roadworks begin on the Isle of Wight following a vote by councillors this week.
A ‘consultation first’ principle for major Island roadworks will be put in place after the Isle of Wight Council backed a motion at its Full Council meeting earlier this week (Wednesday).
The local authority will adopt a policy requiring ward councillors, town and parish councils and affected local businesses and residents to be consulted before major scheduled project plans are finalised.
Another agreed requirement is for ‘continuous engagement’ throughout the lifetime of the works, while projects will be reported to the council’s Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee on a quarterly basis.
Liberal Democrat councillor Nick Stuart, who represents Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet, brought the motion before the chamber and said highway issues were among the main concerns raised by residents in his ward.
Cllr Stuart said:
“Highway issues are one of the principal causes of irritation to my residents.
“I would like the council to recognise there are two key things we need to see: consultation with members and the operational expectations of Island Roads and highways are to maintain the roadwork network as open as possible.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have seen far too many closures which take place when they don’t need to or which carry on being formally closed… when everybody can see there is no work being carried on.”
The motion also sets a clear expectation that Island Roads, utility companies and contractors should safely reopen roads, or reduce traffic management restrictions, during periods when work is not actively taking place.
Reform UK councillor Les Kirkby backed the motion and said he believed cooperation between Island Roads and the council’s highways department had improved over recent months.
He said:
“They’re actually stopping road closures and emergency road closures where they never have done before – one of the biggest problems we’ve had is going to bed at night and waking up and the road’s closed in the morning.”
Conservative group leader Councillor Ed Blake also voted in favour of the motion but said he did not believe it fully addressed the underlying problem facing the Island’s road network.
Cllr Blake said:
“That is the fact that our transport network is beyond capacity to the point where it has absolutely zero resilience, so when a road is closed, you have got a ridiculous diversion around that is not only a lot of miles, but it also takes you forever to get through because there is too much traffic trying to get down that diversion.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Island First Network chair of the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee, abstained from the vote.
She told councillors:
“I appreciate the intent, but I think much of the work is being done by the committee and the committee will not be shirking away from any of the issues we need to face to get our road network as efficient as possible.”
All for Islanders leader Councillor Chris Jarman also highlighted the role of utility companies, saying they were responsible for the ‘vast majority’ of road closures faced by motorists on the Island.
He added:
“This is not simply an Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads issue – this has to involve cross-utility discussions and where Island Roads need our support, we need to weigh in with that support.”
The newly agreed approach means consultation with those affected by major scheduled works will take place before plans are finalised, with engagement continuing while the works are underway.
