Users of the Military Road and readers of VB will be aware of the landslide near Brook that took place the weekend before last.
Sadly it appears today that another landslide has occurred, resulting in part of the Military Road being sectioned off for single lane traffic and the edge of the cliff moving ever closer to the road.
Temporary traffic lights are in place and safety barriers being installed.
The council tell us that they’ve been “carrying out daily safety inspections on the road for several weeks“.
Hayward:
Peter Hayward, Isle of Wight council Head of Highways and Transport said,
“Some sections of coastline near the Military Road are eroding much more quickly than in previous years due to the really wet weather we have seen this winter.
“We will continue to monitor the road and will take further appropriate action should the stability of the highway be threatened.
“We are working on a number of options for the long-term future of the road and these will be considered by the council’s cabinet in March.”
Wareham: Fallen at least five metres in five weeks
Jill Wareham, Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the Island, is calling again for urgent discussions to take place to save the Military Road.
Jill Wareham said,
“I have been monitoring the cliff falls at the narrowest point between the cliff edge and the road for the past five weeks.
“The cliff has fallen at least five metres in those five weeks. At that rate the road will have to be closed completely in a month’s time. The council has now put barriers alongside this part of the road and traffic lights for one way traffic.
“The work on the viaduct at Brighstone has been postponed from this year to next year. I am beginning to think that this council wants to forget about the ‘Back of the Wight’ with the complete failure to tackle the Military Road and the Undercliff Road problems.
“If the Isle of Wight council waits until March 30th to discuss the road it is likely to be closed completely. There appears to be a complete lack of urgency – where is the local Ward Councillor and Cabinet member for transport?
“The loss of this part of the road would have a devastating effect on the residents of Brook, the leisure users of Compton Bay and will have a major impact on the businesses in Freshwater Bay.”
Many thanks to VB reader, Vix Lowthion for use of the photo and video of the road.
