Undercliff Drive engineering works after landslip

Government minister says no to emergency funding for Undercliff Drive

In August this year, the mayor of Ventnor Town Council (VTC), Jason Mack, wrote to the Minister for High Streets and Coastal Communities, Penny Mordaunt.

As the Government had committed £2m to assist Eastbourne Pier following extensive fire damage, the Ventnor Town Council asked for the same consideration to be made in respect of the impact of the Undercliff Drive landslip that occurred in February 2014.

Unfortunately for all those affected by the landslip, Ms Mordaunt wasn’t feeling quite so generous towards the Isle of Wight as she had been towards Eastbourne.

Money already given for the PFI
In her letter to the VTC, the Minister pushes the responsibility back onto Isle of Wight Council, citing the £477m grant the Government has committed to the council for the Highways PFI scheme over the next 25 years.

She does say that she’s truly sorry to hear about the landslip though and the impact it’s had on local residents and businesses.

See Ms Mordaunt’s letter in full. Jason Mack’s is on the second page.

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