The controversial closure of an Isle of Wight road has raised ‘serious concerns’ over the decision-making, monitoring and communications around closing highways, councillors have agreed.
Full council voted to request the subject be treated as a ‘priority matter’ of highways governance, accountability and public confidence, in a motion passed at County Hall last week (Wednesday).
Chair, Councillor Ian Dore, who put forward the submission, said members from different political groups have been saying the same thing:
“The Island’s highways arrangements are not giving residents and businesses the confidence, clarity or accountability they deserve.”
In reference to the recent closure of Firestone Copse Road near Wootton, the motion said no formal recorded risk, safety or displacement assessments have been disclosed, and no clear formal options appraisal or decision record has been produced. It said:
“The disclosed papers reveal blurred accountability and inconsistent communications, including confusion between Island Roads’ delegated decision-making role, Southern Water’s supporting role, the practical implementation of the closure, and the management of the closure itself.
“Residents and businesses experienced significant disruption, while the wider record raises concerns about member engagement, public communication, and whether the council’s own standards of transparent, accountable, and well-recorded decision-making were met.
“The Firestone Copse Road closure has raised serious concerns about the evidential basis, decision-making, communications, monitoring, and governance surrounding highway closures undertaken through the Island Roads Highways PFI and the Council’s Highways function.”
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The council agreed to refer concerns as an ‘urgent’ matter to the appropriate committee or committees for consideration.
Cllr Dore’s motion also requests the council consider and make recommendations on commissioning an independent ‘contract assurance review’ of the Highways Private Finance Initiative (PFI), including the integration, oversight, and operation of the local authority’s highways department, at meetings in September.
The proposal also asks that the matter be brought back to full council for further debate and decision, no later than November.
Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, an Island First Network member who chairs the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure (ERTI) committee, told the chamber work has ‘already been commenced’ with a verbal update due at the ERTI committee this week.
Conservative councillor Matthew Price also spoke of his frustrations at the ten-day closure of Fairlee Road for works he said could have been done while keeping the road partly open.
Cllr Chris Jarman suggested the matter be brought before the policy, finance and resources (PFR) committee to consider cost implications.
Liberal Democrat representative Andrew Garratt emphasised the importance of County Hall ‘owning this issue’ and said councillors have to ‘bear the brunt’ of residents’ frustration.
Cllr Les Kirkby, of Reform UK, said he felt that over the last few years, the council and Island Roads have been working ‘against each other’ rather than together.
According to IR works page. Southern water will carry out more work on Eleanor’s grove in August.
The third time this year. Despite there claim that the ten weeks of chaos earlier this year, would negate future inconvenience to users. Well done to Ian for questioning IR over the bizarre closure of Firestone copse. It looks more like IR doesn’t care how much chaos they cause.
It seems Southern water are quick to apply outrageous rises to our bills. Plus according to the press, poltute our seas.
But incapable of fixing leaks properly in a timely manner.
Firestone copse road is a rat run, during the road closure it was positively dangerous for those of us using the copse.
I voted for Ian Dore but agreed with the road closure.
Perhaps rather than close it completely, as there was nothing wrong with the road, it could have been made “one way”.
Having lived in this road for Twelve Years, I to would vote for the road Closure as was, the road is to narrow and trafic heavy and speedy well just to fast for the problems involved say a large caravan making it’s way to kite Hill park and speeding trafice from Binstead or Havenstreet equals a need for recovery
It’s not a rat run at all, it’s one single road that has a few bends, the main issue is people who can’t drive properly using the smaller roads and panicking every time a car comes towards them. I use that road multiple times a day, multiple days a week when working, NEVER had an issue. Learn to drive properly or stay on the big main roads!!
12 Years of experance tells me it was and is a rat run and tidal to boot
The Council is supposed to have statutory responsibility for Highways, not some fly-by-night contractor. The Council must take back control.
I agree. The Isle of Wight Council should bring back control of Highways. It’s the same in many counties.
Highways are outsourced to a third party, where standards have dropped even further. The quality of the work, including the materials used, appears not to be fit for purpose. Bringing it back in-house enables transparency and accountability.
It’s a common issue: instead of cutting out the area where a pothole has developed, currently, contractors are shoving in a bit of asphalt, which breaks up immediately after a change in the weather and a few lorries have driven over it.
What I’d like to know is how much the Isle of Wight Council gives to Island Roads each year?
In Northampton, West Northants Council recently purchased back all of what many of us would have called Council Houses & Flats. The newly elected Reform Council recognised that tenants were not getting repairs done, with many waiting five to eight years for a leaking roof to be fixed. All Housing stock was purchased back from a 3rd party contractor. Since then, Tenants are getting remedies sorted promptly. Furthermore, it’s costing the taxpayer much less than before.
The newly elected board at the Isle of Wight Council should consider bringing Highways back under local control to save money and reinstate quality.
I remember the days when Margaret Thatcher offered the right-to-buy scheme to council tenants. It was commonplace back then for many to know that council properties were built to a high standard and always maintained.
i dont know how much all this is costing no wonder the council are running out of money but if they do close the road again just make Firestone copes a one way road and to stop the drivers from going to fast just screw some sleeping police men along the route like the ones they have at asda and that would keep the speed down problem solved