The partial collapse of the seawall that runs between Ventnor and Bonchurch could take years to fully repair, with concerns growing for the potential for an imminent environmental disaster.
Aerial photographs captured by Island Echo reveal the full extent of the damage to the revetment, which was closed by the Isle of Wight Council last week when a void was discovered.
Severe weather has further damaged the sea wall making it even more unstable. Large concrete panels have been ripped away by mother nature with the whole sea defence structure now moving daily. Engineers are battling the elements and the tide to stabilise the sea defence as quickly as possible.
The area has been fenced off at either end to prevent anyone from venturing into what is now a dangerous section of the coastal path.
Shockingly, the Isle of Wight Council has revealed this week that there are concerns from multiple agencies about a sewage pipe that runs within the sea wall. It is feared that the continuing barrage from the English Channel could lead to the concrete pipe being damaged, which would spill untreated sewage from Bonchurch and Ventnor straight into the sea.
Local authority officials are working with colleagues from the Environment Agency, the Marine Management Organisation and Southern Water to come up with a plan of action. In the meantime, temporary repairs are being made in a bid to stop the situation from getting any worse.
It’s unclear at this early stage how long it will be until the path can re-open. In the short term, the focus of the Isle of Wight Council and partners is to make emergency repairs to protect the sewage pipe. This will be followed by months of further works.
The reality is that it could be some time before the path is re-opened and it may be years until the situation is permanently resolved. The year 2026 has been raised as a possible date of completion…
Gabion cages put in the sea would prevent further tidal waves doing even greater damage and may just stop an environmental disaster of sewage pouring into the seaside.
A whole line of Gabion cages filled easily with rocks from the beach would be cheap, effective and not too unattractive.
So, it won’t be used by this Council, as no large thankyou cards from any large grateful firms tendering the contracts.
Filling them with rocks from the beach would make things far worse as Mr Spindler fopund out when he built the sea walls at Binnel.
Mr Spindler lived and did work in 1800’s, they had not Gabion cages then, so the storm could move individual boulders OR smash down a solid harbour which he constructed.
Ivy is right Gabion cages are fine
My thought exactualy jo blogs isnt that why beaches have stines and bolders too stop dome of the force if the tide waves perhapes could fill them with all the dimwit brains eh
Am sure the courts have plenty of community hours available that could be spent doing the job as well as cleaning seaweed from Ventnor Haven.
You seem to be obsessed with Gabions, a very odd fetish.
Gabions exposed to salt water don’t last very long as the cages rust very quickly.
Stainless steel doesn’t. Ivy is right. It would help and a crane could move them to use elsewhere IF this is ever fixed
Gibion cages for sale!
Come and Pick up your gibion cages from ivy. Best thing since sliced bread.
Pick up 10 today and get 3 for free.
Gibion cages for sale!
Let’s face it, anything on the island that needs fixing seems to take ten times longer than it would take to be fixed anywhere else.
If it’s not Bembridge or Freshwater this council won’t give a toss. Simple as that.
Masons home town
Pathetic !!!it’s not a difficult repair ,a month at the most
Should have been done right in the first place…
Have they still got the guarantee?
Why only temporary ? It can only get worse
Just use some rocks from Jeff’s harbour or give the council a back hander gets most things going on the island
Pure lack of maintenance. I’ve noticed several places along there where the sea is getting under the edges of the concrete slabs.
That’s exactly what I thought. Seems very little is maintained proactively here.
Council inspector should have gone to Specsavers
Probably went to the bank after turning a blind eye.
Repair it nature will win again in time, and problem moves to some where else.