Concerns over further rockfalls have led to the temporary closure of Bonchurch Shute after a sizeable boulder fell from the rock face earlier this week.
The mass of rock, mud and vegetation has loomed precariously over the road for many years. On Tuesday evening, a boulder described by the Isle of Wight Council as ‘sizeable’ came loose and landed on the footway below, prompting the immediate closure of the road.
Though the section of road that is closed is relatively short, motorists must now divert via Bonchurch Village Road, St Boniface Road and Leeson Road to reach the other end of Bonchurch Shute.
Council officials say they are working with all parties to resolve the issue as quickly as possible, but no exact timeframe has been given.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has said:
“A short section of Bonchurch Shute has been temporarily closed in the interest of public safety after a sizeable boulder fell from a rock mass onto the footway below earlier this week. Our initial assessment has found there is a risk of further rockfalls. We are also concerned at the increasing size of the trees above that are both adding weight to the rock mass and sending root growth into the rock strata.
“We will be working with the responsible landowner and the Isle of Wight Council to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. While Bonchurch Shute has been closed as a through road for cars, both pedestrian access and access to all properties remains.”
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A traffic notice has the road closed until 29th September.
Oh goodie… Another 18 month wait whilst IWC try to work out how to remove a rock that has been there for decades, plus they now want to remove trees that have been there for decades, and insist on growing, in case the roots enter the rock strata. It is already a pretty hopeless task with no answer unless the land owner obtains some serious JCB heavy equipment, or some Explosives, and demolishes said rock with all the legal issues that presents. But fear not, IWC will have a nice company to call on to do some risk assessment, offer remedies, at great cost and spent another fortune for ridiculous ideas.
God only knows what this will do to the already shaky insurance situation in that area, perhaps It is time to change our councils motto to…. IWC, turning an issue into a crisis.
So, yet another road in Ventnor shut because of debris on the carriageway. No doubt there will be all the usual excuses about safety and need for expert assessment. IWCC and Island Roads – Just get on and ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING NOW, not wait several months before even starting to consider what needs doing.