A lack of consultation and pre-warning for a set of road closures near Wootton Bridge has left residents “chasing different companies for answers”, an Isle of Wight councillor has said.
Councillor Sarah Redrup, the Liberal Democrat representative for Wootton Bridge, pointed to “widespread confusion” among locals over the bank holiday weekend, with closure signage on Lushington Hill “changed overnight without explanation” last week.
The planned closures
There are closures expected on Lushington Hill, Briddlesford Road, Alverstone Road, Brocks Copse Road and Combley Road next month.
Alverstone Road and Brock Copse Road are scheduled to be closed at some point between 2nd and 13th June 2025 for crack sealing.
A range of reasons for closures
The closures are required to allow Island Roads to reconstruct the footway and/or carriageway along with any related drainage and preparation works.
Lushington Hill will be closed between 5th and 6th June 2025 to enable Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) repairs.
Briddlesford Road is to be closed between today (Monday) and 16th June 2025, as enforced by Southern Gas Network (SGN).
The closure is for engineers to replace gas pipes.
Routine maintenance works
‘Routine maintenance works’ by Island Roads will mean Combley Road is shut between 4th and 6th June 2025.
The five closures follow two months of work on the nearby Park Road which was extended by an extra two weeks. Park Road did not initially open as planned on Saturday, causing further traffic disruption.
Redrup: The situation has been disappointing
After an outcry from residents and Councillor Redrup, it opened late on Sunday morning.
She said,
“Unfortunately, the situation has been disappointing. Residents and businesses should be part of the conversation when this sort of work is planned, and at the very least, they deserve clear, timely information.
“Over the bank holiday weekend, there was widespread confusion, especially when signage was changed overnight without explanation.
“With multiple contractors involved, people were left chasing different companies for answers. That’s simply not acceptable.”
Councillor Redrup added that ‘transparency and proactive communication’ should be ‘non-negotiable’.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
