Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has been looking for ways to fund improvements to the A3055 which runs from Ryde to Freshwater, encompassing Leeson Road, the Undercliff and the Military Road. Mr Seely has put forward a number of suggestions in a letter to the Isle of Wight Council to see if money from other projects can be amalgamated into an A3055 fund. He has identified 3 potential sources of income that could be considered… Mr Seely has said:
“First, the Island has been allocated £13.6 million for the Island Green-Link to enhance travel between Ryde and Yarmouth by improving cycling, walking and bus routes and improving accessibility. Clearly, this is a very important project, and one I and others fought hard to get the funding for, but I have asked the council to look into the possibility, once the key elements of the project have been funded and costed, of allocating any remaining funds for the A3055. “Second, there may be other projects the council is delivering where some potential savings could be released and allocated to an A3055 fund. I have asked the council to undertake a review of its capital projects to see where there could be potential savings for this purpose. “Third, we were allocated around £900,000 from the government as our share of HS2 cancellation money. I’m asking whether this could be allocated to an A3055 fund. “At this stage, I’m just asking what I think are the common-sense questions because we need to consider all the options.”
Mr Seely has also asked the Council if it would be willing to re-open Leeson Road, following calls from residents. In his letter, Bob said:
“Ventnor residents and businesses strongly feel that the road should be re-opened, especially now that monitoring is in place. “If a full re-open is deemed too risky, can you, and Island Roads, please consider a partial re-opening to motorbikes and cars, if not to lorries or buses? I am aware that ground movement is possible, but we now have monitoring in place.”
“I’m pleased that we are another step closer to getting the road reopened, however, it is increasingly frustrating that the proposed timescales are increasing the further down the line we get. “Initially we were told in the Public Meeting held at St Catherine’s Church on the 29 February that the monitoring systems would be installed within a fortnight; eight weeks later they are installed. “I urge Island Roads to reopen the road with a live monitoring system rigged up to traffic warning devices as soon as possible. This is vital to Ventnor’s residents and businesses, as currently, we cannot get all the traffic needed to service the area through the presently open routes. “Furthermore, with the continued closure of Lower Gills Cliff Road, all traffic has to use Ocean View Road to access the town. This, with further failures to reopen Bath Road and Southgrove Road, is grinding the area to a halt. “Ventnor needs to have a good summer season in order to have any chance of surviving the next winter as well as backfill the holes created from the disruption this winter. “Council officers also alluded to emergency relief funding being made available to businesses in the area that have suffered since December. This needs to be actioned as soon as possible to help lower the ever-growing risk of forced closures and the loss of jobs and livelihoods that would bring.”
Nice thinking Bob
but im sure all of us his money will be all ready so small they’ll be lucky if the could aford a shovel.
another way to save money really easily is get someone to manage island roads
millions would be saved rather than wasted on this so called company
My goodness is he just everywhere right now.
Its embarrassing how he is so obviously after votes.
The man is a joke…. anything to keep himself in a job for the money and nothing else.
Dear Bob. Have a chat with qualified engineers who are able to give you a proper explanation why throwing money at the Undercliff is not a good idea. The unqualified idiots that we have on the Council are unable to participate in any discussion regarding major geological projects. The Undercliff at the moment is still moving just take a walk along there, even with local light local traffic the road is falling away, the footpath link between the east and west of the fault is fast disappearing. Spend the money on the potholes that will benefit the motorists most.
He’s pandering to the undereducated again. The ones stamping their feet demanding Leeson road being reopened despite it not being safe to do so.
The same ones who likely would be baying for blood if people were injured or killed it the did open it.
The same reason Seely supported the now proven disaster of Brexit. Lies Don’t matter if they deliver votes.
He already knows, I was speaking to one of them last night. He’s known for years. They all know. He also knows that ‘allocated funding’, ‘levelling-up’ and ‘promise’ have a time frame of 10-15 years become they all come under the heading of ‘bullshit’. The only thing he’s looking for ways to fund is private investment once he’s out of a job.
George sadly PopUp Bob doesn’t see the full picture in situations, just wants headlines he thinks will sway the short sighted Tory voters .. the Roads are poor, islands Road special flour and water mix pot hole repairs are a standing joke on the island, PopUp will not get involved in this area of the islands problems .. not interested.
Ahhhh seely with a “suggestion “ so doing nothing as usual then,you really are desperate in an election year aren’t you!
You can definitely tell there is a General Election and he is standing for West Wight. As usual too little too late.
Not my MP !!
Well if you live on the Isle of Wight right not, it appears that he is. There should be an opportunity to overturn that the next election, if you believe casting a vote would actually make a difference.
Why didn’t he sggest this years ago? Must be a general election coming up…
Seely does nothing else for 4 years then, POW he comes in with all the right words but no substance. Perhaps he is using CHAT GPSEELY. From lack of intelligence to artificial intelligence for his clueless rhetoric.
All words – no action.
I’m all for our MP having ideas, but having our MP save all their ideas & appearances for an election year is a tad ridiculous. It feels like he has been sat around for years with his feet up “working from home” & suddenly decided it was time to go back into the office to show his face. The sad thing is his tactics will probably work & he can get himself another four year holiday.
They aren’t “ideas”. Just more BS bs pandering to the thickos in the hope they will fall for it (again) and vote for him.
Looks like more BS from BS.
D.B yes every time he opens his mouth ..
It is a very valid point made by George. The IWC or Island Roads do not have a single person in any position with any knowledge, let alone an expert. Money is no doubt being wasted throwing tenders out to consultants, which takes time. Hence what gets said in local a meeting held by representatives & what actually happens on site are in general poles apart. In order to get anything moving, the IWC should have sought to employ a Geological expert back in December & keep them on the books for the foreseeable. It’s not like there wouldn’t be enough for him/her to do.
Perhaps if we never had a truly ENDLESS amount of new arrivals every day entering the UK illegally, and more so legally, then there would be more money available from central Government to fund so many of the projects that are needed to make life more tolerable for those of us who do belong, here and whose parents, grandparents etc have paid in to create a better life for us, not the worlds chancers.
See why the UK is now impoverished and ask yourself it is merely ‘coincidence’ its timing is the same as en-masse arrivals here.
The lefty mouth will not agree of course but those able to use their own eyes and ears can see
Whilst those Brits WITH money leave, those arriving are dirt poor, impoverishing us ever more each day.
Here we go again…
Perhaps focus your attention on the HUGE amounts of money the government wastes in most other sectors (NHS, Councils, their expenses, wages etc, etc…) rather than constantly focussing on one problem!
It’s not the Brits with money leaving that you need to worry about.
It’s the educated and skilled ones.
You know, the doctors, engineers, scientists, etc.
This country is going down the pan fast and that’s driven by the undereducated (like you) being fooled by the ruling elite that a few thousand illegal migrants are the big problem.
Wake up and smell the coffee before it’s too late.
And don’t think Reform will fix anything. Multi-Millionaires like their leader (Richard Tice, worth £70 million) are the problem. They are using your naivety and gullibility to make themselves even wealthier at your expense.
Not possible. Because of the contract, it’s now Island Roads in charge of tenders.
Bob STOP B’stards speeding on the Island
He’s suggesting something he KNOWS makes zero sense and they can’t do – shameless nonsense from a panicking MP?
Time to realise that Leeson Road is never going to reopen. This is Undercliff Drive all over again. One major route in and out of Ventnor (Whitwell Road would require a long journey to get to Ryde or even Newport) risks the town being completely cut off. I was down there just last weekend and Wroxall was bedlam, like the middle of summer holidays. Plan for and fix this issue rather than throw more money away on a route that is going fall into the sea within the next 5 years.
So £13million ? ye like any of that is going to be spent well ..£900.000 from hs2 how come? was it coming over here then?..solent migh tof been an issue..good ol bob.
‘£13.6 million for the Island Green-Link’ Hmmm – the Island’s small scale scenario of HS2. A – It’ll never happen and B – Just a another way to stuff money into the pockets of shysters that pretend they give a damn.
Can somebody explain to Bob that major road repairs like this that require specialist expertise and large amounts of money are completely beyond the council’s ability to fund or undertake without compromising their ability to perform their statutory duties.
Rather than suggesting ways to search down the back of the sofa for loose change in the budget, he should be demanding that the DfT step in, take over the project, and provide adequate funding.
They might also remind both Bob and IWCC that just only the DfT can make the decision to abandon a major trunk road to the elements, and even then, only if there is no alternative. Put another way, IWCC’s unilateral decision is not legal.
Anything to grab a headline in an election year, no matter how stupid.
Don’t worry Mr seely,you will be elected in the Isle of Wight East constituency.
Have you seen the state of the Labour candidate.
Ventnor also needs access for all the potential buyers of properties up for sale. There are those who are selling up because of the parlous state of access to the town, and there are those who are selling up because the council, in its wisdom, is planning to pick the pockets of the owners of second homes. All in all, Ventnor could soon resemble Seaview in winter.
i suppose they will spend the money on yellow lines
Good old Seely he’s got more suggestions this year than we’ve seen in 5 years , I wonder why? Must be an election coming .
HS2 money is not due to be released until 2 to 3 years AFTER the election whenever its held. Its not in the Treasury budget for spending this, or the next three financial years. Yet again Bob slow release waterbutt-Seely has got his railway facts 100% incorrect.
The roads on the Island are the responsibillity of the local authority. Why is Seel sticking his nose in and trying to tell them how to do thir job. He is an MP of the party currently in government. If he wants to help on a financial level, whichc he correctly identifies is critical, he should be using his position in Westminster to secure additional central funding, not adising the council on how to spend their budget which this Conservative Government has reduced by slashing 40% of central government grant.
Speed Camera’s islandwide please Bob, keep our roads safe.
Wroxall’s Rds nowadays are gridlocked at times, due to the increased amount of traffic, residents parking, and roadworks.
With the Rd now falling to bits in places, the once lovely surface is now potholed, broken and an immediate decision will need to be made ASAP, otherwise this only MAIN route will close like the rest.
Feel for Ventnor, so come on IR and IOWC. Get a shift on ans make a decision.