News OnTheWight can now share an artist’s impression of the proposed replacement railings for Ventnor Cascade.
Last week Island Roads announced they would be replacing the Victorian railings with railings which they said “respect the Victorian character of the seafront”. The work is due to take 27 weeks and the walkway will be closed throughout.
News OnTheWight asked Island Roads for a drawing of the proposed railings, which were not sent through as they were awaiting sign off. This image above has been sourced from another party involved.
“Retain the same styling”
Following publication of the article, several readers got in touch with News OnTheWight to say how important they felt it was for the replacement railings to retain the same styling as the current Victorian railings.
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Locals may be disappointed to see the drawings for the proposed replacement for the sweeping pedestrian walkway in a Conservation Area.
IR: Compliant with the required safety standards
Island Roads claims the horizontal bars need to be replaced with vertical ones in order to be compliant with the required safety standards.
To those who picked up on the requirement for vertical bars all the way along the walkway, and where the railings come close to road traffic, it feels like overkill, they told News OnTheWight.
Victorian family photo
Suzanne Whitewood, who says she has never known anyone to go over the railings, shared this photograph from the GM Warner family collection, taken during the Victorian era.
Suzanne told News OnTheWight,
“I spent many a happy hour with Rene Howe walking up and down the Cascade Walk as did other Ventnor children.
“As the school had no playing fields, our games, especially in the summer, were played on Ventnor cliffs. No one went over!”
