A large and precarious rockface finally gave way in dramatic style in Ventnor last night (Friday), resulting in the closure of roads and footways.
Belgrave Road is again in the spotlight following a rockfall in the centre of the Victorian Isle of Wight town.
This is the same road that was closed in 2020 following cracks appearing in the road surface, before giving way weeks later. It it took nearly 3 years to get the road reopened.
In this latest incident, hundreds of tonnes of rocks have crashed to the ground causing a line of destruction.
The amount fallen is so substantial that the debris has wiped out a large section of railings on the opposite side of the road and has showered the steps and Esplanade Road below with rubble.
A local resident has told Island Echo that they heard a loud thud as the rocks, on the locally known ‘Windy Corner’, came crashing down at just before 23:15.
Police were initially called to the scene and erected a cordon to keep the public away.
Island Roads were also alerted to the situation by the former Rex Cinema, near the junction of Church Road.
Response crews have put in place a road and footway closure, meaning you cannot walk or drive between Church Road and Esplanade Road. The carriageway, footway and the steps below have also been closed.
Traffic is to divert locally from Church Street via Alpine Road, Zig Zag Road to Park Avenue to reach the other end. Pedestrians should also follow this same route.
Police and Island Roads remained in attendance at 02:30 as they finished securing the scene before first light.
Windy Corner has always been a talking point, with the rock overhanging the footway for decades – which put some people on edge when passing it.
Island Roads placed water-filled barriers directly below the rock with the footway being closed approximately 10 years ago. These have now been crushed as the precarious rock face gave way.
It is expected there will be highway inspectors on site this morning to assess the damage, and traffic management crews will attend to add additional signage for pedestrians and motorists.
Thankfully, due to the time of night, with low pedestrian footfall and little traffic on the roads, nobody was directly in the area at the time of the fall; nobody was injured.
It is too early at this stage to give an estimation of how long the road will be closed for.
Councillor Ed Blake, for Ventnor and St Lawrence, has told Island Echo:
”I have asked repeatedly for something to be done about the Belgrave Road rock. It either needed a rock netting placed over it or controlled removal, and instead water filled barriers remained in situ for years.
“Not only were they unsightly, they were going to be useless should something happen; as shown by last nights fall”.
Residents are still able to access their properties as usual, albeit from the Park Avenue end of Belgrave Road.
Island Echo is expecting a statement from the Isle of Wight Council later today.
No doubt, Island Roads will take 3 years to reopen Belgrave Road when it should be well less than 3 months.