Councillor Ed Blake shares this statement in relation to Leeson Road. Ed
Isle of Wight Councillors, Ed Blake, Chris Quirk, and Michael Beston have expressed their serious concerns regarding the upcoming second closure of Leeson Road on Sunday 8th September.
Leeson Road, which was reopened for the first time in seven months in July following the landslip in December last year, will close again in September. Effectively severing off parts of Ventnor and Shanklin from the rest of the Island.
A council spokesperson has said,
“We aim to reopen the road by Christmas.”
Road closed for at least eleven weeks
In real terms, this will effectively close off the road for at least eleven weeks leading up to Christmas providing that the planned works remain on schedule.
The three councillors have questioned the need for sinking the three boreholes into the road to install more monitoring devices which could be positioned in private land adjacent to the road allowing the road to remain open.
Plans scrutinised
Experts have scrutinised the plans and have put forward adjustments to the scheme that would keep the road safely open during the works.
Senior council officers at a meeting said they would look at this but they would not confirm they would delay the works and the road closure when all present at the meeting agreed that closing of the road would be to the detriment of the town.
It was confirmed at the meeting that, although the Council had said that nearby land owners had been consulted, no such communication had occurred.
Blake: If the Graben goes down, we are left with just the Whitwell Road for access
Councillor Blake, ward member Ventnor and St Lawrence has commented,
“The road closure leaves Ventnor with a huge cloud over it, if the Graben goes down, we are left with just the Whitwell Road for access. This is a real possibility as it is so close to becoming impassable.
“Wroxall too is desperate for road works as their network is crumbling. Shanklin too will suffer particularly with the Sandown railway bridge closure disruption during September and October.
“Both Ventnor and Shanklin will basically turn into cul-de-sacs once more until Christmas.”
Quirk: Shanklin businesses were seriously impacted by the downturn in trade
Councillor Quirk whose district covers the South of Shanklin said,
“During the first road closure, Shanklin businesses were seriously impacted by the downturn in trade due to the Old Village affectively being closed off to vehicular traffic.
“That coupled with inappropriate road diversion signage exacerbated the situation.
“Whilst visitor numbers to the Island were down in the first quarter of the year, local businesses remain open and rely on the shoulder end of the year to make up for lost trade.
“Closing the Leeson Road once again will negatively affect this opportunity to trade in the late part of the year.”
Beston: You could not have planned a more perfect storm
Councillor Beston who represents Shanklin Central district said,
“This year has been exceptionally tough for Island businesses connected to the hospitality industry. Road connectivity is vitally important to our visitors when deciding where to book their holiday staycations.
“Limited road access only goes to deter that visitor from booking accommodation in the Bay or Ventnor areas.
“The planned works on the two railway bridges in Sandown, together with the entire closure of Island Line between Shanklin and Ryde Pier Head throughout September and October, and the Closure of Leeson Road until December will be disastrous. You could not have planned a more perfect storm.”
A council spokesperson has said,
“In order for work to start on Monday 9th September, the road will be closed from 10pm on Sunday, 8th September.”
