Overnight, the words HELP have been sprayed onto the large rockfall in Ventnor.
It has been six weeks since the iconic overhang rock on Belgrave Road, Ventnor, collapsed onto the carriageway.
Residents and businesses in the town have been impacted by the subsequent road closure, whilst the Isle of Wight council has to follow the officials steps to make contact with the owner of the land the rock fell from. They say they have taken legal advice and are able to serve a notice on the landowner – who this week was revealed as being called Mr Rock.
Seen from the webcam
The call for help can be seen from the Ventnor webcam, which is run by IsleofWight.com. Our thanks to them for use of the photo.
Blake: A tangible daily impact on residents
Earlier this month, Councillor Ed Blake (the councillor for Ventnor and St Lawrence) highlighted the continued risk to infrastructure, as well as the daily challenges the closure presents to residents. He said,
“The rockfall not only presents a continued risk to the road infrastructure but also has a tangible daily impact on residents.
“The extra weight of fallen rock on the road adds to the risk of collapse. More immediately, residents—especially elderly individuals—are being forced to take longer, steeper routes to access the town centre.
“For some, the detour over Alpine Road is simply not manageable.”
