Residents in the landlocked properties on Undercliff Drive have been informed by letter (embedded below) by the Isle of Wight council that the work to restore an access road to their homes will not go ahead this year as planned.
The new access road was supposed to be open by early October to allow the residents vehicle access to their homes for the first time since the February 2014 landslide.
The letter explains that because of an ecological survey that has to take place due to ‘the potential of rare bats’ nesting in the trees that need to be removed to build the western turning area, the work won’t take place until that is completed. The survey is due to run until the end of August 2016.
Why the need for a turning point?
The absolute need for a western turning point is not clear.
For the last 18 months, any vehicles inadvertently driving down Undercliff Drive reach the barriers and then do a three/four point turn and drive back to Niton without problem.
Devastating blow
This delay in building the access road is devastating news for the residents.
Many of them are elderly, having had to move several times since the landslide and still with their belongings in storage.
Footpath plans still going ahead
The plans for a public footpath/cycleway to run along the front of their houses is still going ahead.
Whether the council will be paying for the necessary security is not yet known, but OnTheWight will be asking.
