More than 200 metres of protected hedgerow will be removed at a junction which is deemed to be the Isle of Wight’s “most dangerous”, say local councillors.
The Isle of Wight council is targeting Vittlefields Cross — where Betty Haunt Lane, Forest Road and Whitehouse Road join, on the outskirts of Newport — in the hope of improving visibility for motorists.
Hedges removed and replaced further back
Two rows of hedges will be removed — around 215 metres in total — and replaced by new native hedgerow plants and a fence, set further back from Forest Road and at an angle to the main road.
One of the hedges is over 30 years old.
The Isle of Wight council gave conditional permission for Island Roads to remove the protected hedgerow — as designated under law in the Hedgerow Regulations — last week.
The authority said exceptional circumstances are because it currently blocks visibility, compromising highway safety.
IWC bought land
After a fatal crash in 2019 and a series of other incidents, County Hall bought the land on the corner of Whitehouse Road and Betty Haunt Lane, for highway safety improvements.
Vittlefields Cross is the Island’s “top collision cluster”, according to the council.
Nine collisions in four years
In the space of four years, there have been nine collisions at the junction, resulting in one death and 29 injuries.
In 2021, the Isle of Wight’s Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, said County Hall should take action to prevent future deaths occurring there.
“Renowned as one of the most dangerous highway sites on the Island”
Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council told the Isle of Wight council while it was regrettable to lose ecologically important habitat like hedgerow, it needed to be balanced on how much safer the works would make the junction.
The community council said the crossing is “renowned as one of the most dangerous highway sites on the Island”.
Must avoid nesting season
Planning officers say the hedgerow must be removed within two years of the decision and it cannot be touched during the 1st March to 31st August nesting season, without consent from Natural England.
In a bid to further improve safety around the junction, skid-resistant surfacing has been laid.
The installation of traffic lights was ruled out at the junction, despite a near 7,000 strong petition calling for them in the aftermath of the fatal crash.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
