Leeson Road will remain closed for the immediate future, as landslide movement continues to be monitored, a public meeting in Ventnor heard on Tuesday night.
Bath Road and Gills Cliff Road will also remain closed as wrangles with landowners continue. More detail on that to follow below.
In December 2023, Leeson Road was closed and homes evacuated following a catastrophic landslide, considered to be one of the largest landslides recorded on the South Coast of England.
Quashing the rumours
Residents attending Tuesday’s meeting were told in no uncertain terms that the rumour circulating on social media claiming the council and Island Roads do not want to see the road opened again, was very far from the truth.
Rob Gillespie, the chief executive of Island Roads, attended the meeting to update residents on closures affecting Leeson Road, Bath Road and Lower Gills Cliff Road, as well as explaining in more detail the issues surrounding Newport Road (the graben).
No permanent fix for the landslide
He explained there would be no permanent fix for the Bonchurch landslide, so the experts are having to consider what could happen in the future in order to reopen the road.
As has been widely reported in the past, the whole area sits on an ancient landslide that is continually moving, albeit usually just a few mm each year. When the Bonchurch landslide occurred in December 2023, 14 million cubic metres of earth was displaced.
Residents asked whether the road could be reopened to pedestrians and cyclists, or single lane traffic and it was explained, once again, that the road closure is not based on the weight of vehicles travelling over it, but the fact that it’s unknown whether the catastrophic landslide has stopped moving.
Gillespie: We understand your frustrations, we are humans too
Mr Gillespie said that everyone working at Island Roads are humans too, with some living nearby and that they all understand the frustrations of residents and businesses.
He told the meeting,
“Staff are working very hard to try to and do the right thing by everyone, they understand the frustrations.
“I feel for them personally as they are trying to get things done quickly for you – but we all understand how difficult living and moving around Ventnor is at the moment.”
Monitoring continues
Topographical surveys are continuing (Island Roads have been doing these since January) and it was reported that there has been very little downward trends on the surface of Leeson Road, with no particular signs of movement, which was encouraging, but there is work still to be done, said Mr Gillespie.
The two consultancies commissioned by the Isle of Wight council and Island Roads, Atkins and Jacobs, will be installing boreholes 60–70 metres deep later in the year (around late June/early July). These would provide an early warning system of future movement.
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) equipment is also being installed at the end of this month. This is remote sensing equipment, with three recording stations and a base station, recording real time data of what is happening in the affected area. There have been delays in getting this installed, due to waiting for consent from Natural England.
Trigger mechanisms
Whilst all the monitoring is taking place, building up a baseline of information on the movement, trigger mechanisms are being designed will allow early a warning system when the road is eventually reopened.
These triggers would have to be more conservative at first, which would be assessed and reacted to accordingly. That would change as time went on, Mr Gillespie explained, whilst they continue to build a picture of what’s happening. A LiDAR survey would also be carried out.
Decision in late summer
Monthly monitoring will continue, with a decision being made in late summer about the next stages.
Mr Gillespie stated that reopening the road would be based on the best assessment of information to hand.
The graben
The section of Newport Road known as ‘the graben’ (read our archive) continues to cause concern. This is another active geological structure that can only be managed and not repaired.
The cracks in the road have been sealed recently to prevent water ingress, and Mr Gillespie reminded residents that footway works had also been carried out.
Two week closure
However, he warned that the road would need to be closed for up to two weeks whilst major sewer repairs are carried out by Southern Water.
Whether this takes place during term term or over the school holidays was put to an informal poll in the meeting and the majority of residents wanted it carried out as soon as possible.
It was pointed out from a resident in the audience that the Island Free School would be closing for two weeks over May half term and suggested the work could take place then. This was noted by IWC officers and Island Roads.
Mr Gillespie pointed out that if left for too long there could be a failure that would result in the road having to be closed for much longer than two weeks.
Gills Cliff Road
In February 2024 large boulders fell from the rock face on lower Gills Cliff Road, taking out the traffic light and resulting in a road closure.
Mr Gillespie acknowledged that reopening this road is a big priority for residents, businesses and Island Roads.
He explained that there were reasonably large fissures and cracks around the cliff face, and so it was still a concern that more material could fall down on the footway and road.
The current thinking, he said, is that substantial netting, of the type used in Belgrave Road, with ground anchors would be designed. This, Mr Gillespie explained, is expected to take a few weeks to get “designed properly” to ensure the anchors are in the right place. However, once designed, this work can be carried out by local contractors on the Island, with installation taking place fairly quickly.
This road will continue to be closed for several weeks whilst the mitigation is designed and installed.
Bath Road
This road has been closed for several months after a retaining wall failure from private land (between two land owners).
Mr Gillespie explained a resolution is something they’ve been working towards for some time and acknowledged that residents and businesses have had to put up with the road closure for a long time.
It was pointed out that enforcement action against one of the two landowners has begun, but this has been challenged by the land owner in the Magistrates Court.
Mr Gillespie said there needs to be a good design that will fit within the conservation area, adding that the wall is still unstable. He explained that moving the debris might create more problems for the land and nearby property.
“Some of it out of our hands, we are as frustrated about this one as everyone is. We do need help where possible.”
It was pointed out that the other landowner has been very helpful.
Undercliff Drive
Mr Gillespie spoke about the ongoing issues for property owners on Undercliff Drive.
He stated that there is movement on the road, as well as some houses being affected. He reminded those attending the meeting that there is movement in that area once again.
Bonchurch Shute
It was explained that resident repairs to a failed garden wall were still ongoing. Island Roads were awaiting information about when the contractors would be finished.
Other areas
Other previously scheduled works by Island Roads in and around Ventnor have been deferred.
It was also acknowledged that with all the extra traffic, Whitwell Road had become very busy with congestion and Island Roads were monitoring that.
It was also pointed out that suggestions had been made regarding parking on the main road in Wroxall and perhaps suspending that to allow a faster flow of traffic through the village. Mr Gillespie said that displacing those vehicles that are parked on the main road, would simply move to problem to somewhere else. He also added that having the parked cars on the main road acted as a form of traffic calming.
Fuller: Leader intends to get the roads open at very earliest opportunity
Councillor Paul Fuller explained that as Cabinet member for Planning and Flooding he was working with council officers to speak to influential get people within the Environment Agency and Government to look at funding. He said there are lots of solutions out there, but we need the money.
He added that they were anticipating a visit in next two weeks from Government “movers and shakers”.
The leader of the council, Phil Jordan, had spoken with Councillor Fuller earlier in the day to reiterate that he intends to get the closed roads open “at very earliest opportunity”.
Public questions
Neil Gibbs, owner of the Spyglass Inn was the first member of the public to speak, saying,
“The thing that bothers me the most is timing and there’s been a total disregard of the commercial interests of Ventnor. I don’t need to remind you that the only source of wealth in the public sector is the private sector and if you don’t do something a bit quicker you’ll bankrupt vast businesses in Ventnor.
“I don’t know if it’s your fault or not but it harder for businesses when you shut the graben. All our commercial and heavy traffic is going to have to come through Godshill and Whitwell. It’s a single track road through Stenbury. And when you investigate the graben, I’ve been observing this since I was a small boy, you might find that takes six months, not two weeks. What plan have you got to overcome that sort of problem?”
This garnered lots of applause from the audience. He added that the Council should compensate local businesses.
Mr Gillespie replied that they were points well made and he didn’t have a counter argument.
“It’s a technical problem and is taking a long time.”
No engineering solution for the landslide
Another member of the audience said that he felt there was a strong economic case and that every resident was affected. He asked what the plan is, suggesting it might be a large engineering project and if so what are the details, or if there is no movement it automatically reopen if within the finite tolerances.
Mr Gillespie replied that there is no engineering solution for the landslide (as he mentioned earlier), no amount of piles, retaining wall etc would be able to be applied to the area. He said the solution they were currently looking towards would be to have the monitoring equipment in place to provide an early warning system, which would be accompanied by a barrier or lights etc that are automatically activated when issues movement is recorded. He added that there are four eminent experts involved with the project.
Upper and lower Ventnor can’t be cut in half
Val Taylor returned the debate towards Southern Water, who she claimed had caused quite a lot of problems in Ventnor. She made several accusations which we’re not going to repeat here.
She went on to say that Island Roads would need to bridge Upper Ventnor and lower Ventnor.
“You’re going to have to bridge it, there’s no two ways about it. I’ve been involved with Ventnor roads for over 50 years, partly as a county councillor, partly as a town councillor and also as a local resident and the big thing for this town to survive, Upper and lower Ventnor cannot be put in a position to be cut in half.”
Mr Gillespie reminded residents that their ability to control utilities is very limited. They are allowed to have access to wherever they need access to.
Robertson: We would like some confidence that funding is there
Joe Robertson an Isle of Wight councillor for Bembridge and the prospective parliamentary candidate for Isle of Wight East, said,
“It’s a statement of the the blooming obvious that the frustration centres on the apparent slowness of Island Roads or the council – it doesn’t matter to people which – to put in monitoring equipment and sort out the problems (with Leeson Road). I don’t think it matters to most people where the funding is coming from – that’s not detail that residents should expect to worry about, but we would like some confidence that funding is there.”
He asked for confirmation that there is funding to monitor through until September, asked whether they are “well down the track” of discussing how they would get the money together to install the flashing lights or barriers that might be triggered by an early warning system.
Michelle Love, the new IWC Service Director for Highways (she’s only been there six weeks) confirmed that there is limited funding and will need to reprioritise funding that has been allocated to other schemes, but she stated that getting to roads in Ventnor opened takes priority. She added that the IWC have spoken to Government, and would like to hear testimonials from residents and businesses to put forward a more detailed case. They haven’t heard back from the Government yet, but confirmed they can cover short term funding, but need external funding for a long term solution.
Engineering response challenged
Bonchurch resident, Richard Ferraro, challenged Mr Gillespie’s statement that there is no engineering solution to shore up or assist in supporting Leeson Road,
“You would need a full options appraisal study by civil structural engineers to hand to justify such a statement.”
He called on the Island Roads CEO to publish his advice advice immediately,
“I frankly don’t believe you and think we are being misled by that statement.”
Mr Gillespie qualified that his statement was in reply to a question about what engineering solution there would be, and he reiterated that there is no engineering solution in the current plan.
Bus stop on the graben
Another member of the audience asked why there was still an active bus stop on the graben.
Ms Love said if Southern Vectis approach them to say they have concerns, the council can propose to close to that bus stop, but they haven’t said whether they have any concerns.
How Ventnor can help
One resident asked what the town can do to help get the Government funding.
Natasha Dix explained that she would be coming back to the town to get statements on the impact of the closures, this would be presented to Central Government. She added that the closures are impacting up to 8,000 people of people living in the area as well as those wanting to visit Ventnor.
She asked residents to use the email address to send photos and statements of impact to help bring as much attention as possible.
Open Gills Cliff Road now
David Groocock from the Keep Ventnor Moving Facebook group raised the issue of Gills Cliff Road saying he could not see why it couldn’t open with single lane traffic on the south side of the road, adding,
“Mr Gillespie, please listen to what the residents are saying, don’t hide behind risk all the time, do the decent thing and open Gills Cliff Road as soon as possible, which means the end of this week.”
That was met by huge applause.
Share your concerns
Anyone with issues relating to the road closures, landslide, coastal protection scheme can email [email protected]
Mr Gillespie said,
“We do genuinely value what you have to say.”
Article edit
6.20pm 15th May 2024 – Public questions added
2.39pm 11th Jun 2024 – Tonnes corrected to metres
