The Isle of Wight Labour party’s prospective parliamentary candidate and Ventnor Town Councillor, Stewart Blackmore, has written to Ian Stephens, Leader of the Council, calling on the council to buy the affected properties on Undercliff Drive and free residents from their ‘living hell’.
He shares this open letter with OnTheWight readers, as well as the Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner and several other members of the Executive. Ed
At last Monday’s meeting of the Executive the very serious situation at Undercliff Drive was discussed and I have to say that those members of the public who are most affected by the slippage, and who were present at the meeting, are extremely disappointed at the outcome.
Ill health which exacerbated by current situation
One family in particular, Peter and Barbara Wright, are in their late seventies and are both suffering ill health which has been exacerbated by the current situation.
They see no hope of ever moving back to their house and they have absolutely no faith in any solution so far proposed coming to anything during their lifetime.
‘A living hell’
Further, they are living in rented accommodation which the owner now wishes to sell, which inevitably means more stress and upheaval.
To be absolutely blunt, their lives have become a living hell.
Provide residents with closure
I very strongly urge the Executive to make a radical decision and buy the affected properties.
This would at least allow the affected residents to get some sort of closure and get on with their lives; all they want is to return to normality.
The moral thing to do
I make this suggestion whilst being fully aware of the severe financial difficulties that face the Council, but I believe that it is the moral and right thing to do.
In taking this step the Council could then appraise all of the suggested solutions in a timely manner and come up with a long-term solution to reopen the Undercliff.
Kicked into the long grass?
I got the very strong impression at last Monday’s meeting that this is what Members favour, although I also got the (equally) strong impression that Officers would rather it was kicked into the long grass.
