News reaches OnTheWight that Executive members have decided to commission their own independent report on the usability of the small section of Undercliff Drive that was rebuilt by volunteers just over a week ago.
When the road was discovered (several days after the event), Island Roads commissioned their engineering consultants, Ramboll UK, to assess the road.
Previous Ramboll work
Previously Ramboll were commissioned by Island Roads to produce the Geotechnical Design Reports for the two sections of road that were subject to landslip earlier this year.
The company were also responsible for writing the ‘failure report’ which was submitted to the council by Island Roads in May.
There are no implications that the Ramboll’s report isn’t thorough or trustworthy.
Executive consider Ramboll report
Ramboll’s engineers attended the site on Friday lunchtime and the outcome of their survey of the work (see report) was discussed by members of the Isle of Wight council Executive earlier this week, after intensive briefing from council officers.
On Tuesday morning, members of the Executive agreed to commission the council’s own independent survey of the work carried out by the volunteers.
OnTheWight understands it will be an Isle of Wight company carrying out the assessment.
Stubbings: “Residents have run out of patience”
Yesterday morning, Executive member and councillor for the Undercliff area, Steve Stubbings, told Julian Clegg on Radio Solent’s breakfast show,
“Residents have run out of patience and I think Mr Smedmore and his allies have put a road up, which I have to tell you in my opinion would be more than happy to drive across, but the legal advice that we’ve received – which the local authority has to take due notice of, is the road is not safe.”
Residents on tenterhooks
Should the council’s independent assessment of the work on Undercliff Drive find the road stable enough to drive on, it could be the news landlocked residents have been waiting for.
We’ll let you know once we hear more.
The Ramboll report
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