Island Echo always welcomes letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
This letter is in response to the one-way diversion between Newport and Cowes, which has been causing significant disruption.
Letter to the editor – 13th May 2025
“This diversion has simply not been thought out properly.
Article continues below this advertisement “If it was their intention to divert all heavy and high-sided vehicles along this route, then prior to the diversion beginning, low branches along the route, particularly along Whitehouse Road and the top of Rolls Hill, needed cutting back.
“High-sided HGV trailers are catching branches and dragging them along, (through no fault of their own), causing them to hang lower, only to be hit over and over again by large vehicles.
“On Monday, I drove the diversion route Cowes in a coach, to return it to base following a candidate’s driving test.
“Branches were found on the road at frequent intervals. At the top of Rolls Hill, a thick branch was hanging so low, which meant that I had to move to the righthand side of the road to avoid it, (a local was standing outside his house and kindly alerting traffic to the problem above).
“It will also only be a matter of time before the bollards and island at the end of Pallance Road are damaged, this ‘island’ and bollards should have been removed before any diversion took place, to facilitate long vehicles turning and overhanging branches cut back.
Article continues below this advertisement “I believe for safety reasons and before someone gets hurt, that all HGVs and coaches, should be allowed to travel to and from Cowes along the normal route, as is the arrangement for Southern Vectis buses.”
“This is the only logical and safe solution. Cars and light traffic can then travel the diversion safely.”
Paul Wheeler
Isle of Wight
If motorists stuck to the rules and got on
with it without breaking the law, a couple of
months will soon pass.
Motorists just don’t play ball
I was walking the dog along East Cowes
Esplanade today and to be fair it is
good of East Cowes to provide free
parking along the esplanade
They don’t have too!!
Yet the amount of Numpty’s who
were parked on Double Yellow Lines
nr the new toilet block by the CCTV
Camera.
One van was a local glazing guy,
Company name all plastered over
his van (A 1st class lawless Numpty)
Plus many other Numpty’s parked on
DoubleYellow Lines opposite the paddling
pool.
if they don’t watch out East Cowes could start charging
motorists to park.
Totally agree with you Paul
Very well put Paul, obviously someone has not been doing their job. Section 130 of the Highways Act 1980 places a duty on the Highways Authority to protect the rights of the public to use and enjoy the Highway. It is also their responsibility to keep highways open and remove any obstructions and encroachments which may effect the use and the safety of the said highway. All trees etc should be cut to ensure 5.2m clearance at least 0.5m back from the edge of the highway. Before you wonder Paul I used to work for the firm with the blue artics.
Things are different on the island, no one
knows what they are doing.
What do you expect? Island roads, and the council are involved, so there’s no chance whatsoever of rational thought.
The blind leading the blind is the problem.
(Dumber and Dumber)
Too much sense there for either the Council or Island Roads. Clearly not a brain cell between them. Any Council officer with two brain cells to rub together would have refused permission for these road works, or better still for this overdevelopment in the first place.