Members of the Isle of Wight planning committee voted in favour of the Island Roads’ planning application for Undercliff Drive today (Tuesday).
Officers had recommended conditional permission for the realignment of the access road for residents from the west, but after hearing the concerns of residents and local parish councillors, not a single question was raised by the planning committee.
Ten members voted in favour of the application.
Construction of the two turning heads has already been started, with one completed several weeks ago. The new road, positioned slightly further inland, will be constructed and completion is expected before the end of September.
‘Serious reservations’ of not just residents
The application had raised serious reservations not only for the residents in the landlocked properties who, although are keen to return home having lived out of boxes in temporary accommodation for two and a half years, feel the plans are seriously flawed, but also the Niton and Whitwell parish council.
The committee were urged by residents to “assess the application on its merits and not fall into the trap of taking action under a hasty compulsion to close the book on this saga”.
Following the meeting, Tim Wright told OnTheWight,
“Two and a half years and this is the best solution that was tabled?
“It almost beggars belief that safety considerations were not at the forefront of the proposal. As the Council’s Highways agent, I am amazed that Island Roads had to be prodded into considering passing places and better options for pedestrians and vehicles on a shared single carriageway.
“Even the residents’ DIY road, built in desperation, had incorporated a passing place. These matters should not have been afterthoughts given the applicant’s status. Many issues remain totally unresolved…no turnarounds in the access road itself, lorries having to reverse 274m on a single track, the Achilles heel of the mudslide at Woodington…..
“It is even more shocking that not a single comment or question from the Planning Committee was raised. The irresistible urge to take action was apparently of greater importance.”
Safety concerns “fall on deaf ears”
He went on to add,
“It is very important to stress that this failure has had a wide impact on a lot of people, not just the landlocked properties in St Lawrence.
“Mr Jon Boileau Goad Chairman of Niton and Whitwell parish raised significant concerns regarding the detrimental effect that the failed 2013-4 schemes has had on Niton and Whitwell businesses and residents alike.
“We share very similar views on the requirement for drainage and stabilisation in order for this proposal, and future the long term proposal of a through road, to be of any use.
“Yet again, I fear that this will fall on deaf ears.”
Shocked
Another resident, Gary Smedmore told OnTheWight,
“I’m shocked, there is so much wrong with these plans. As of yesterday the IWC still doesn’t own the land.
“They haven’t done core samples for where the new road is going.
“None of the safety concerns addressed.
“At least the right of way always remain, but why take it away in the first place?”
“Inherently unsafe proposal”
Tim Wright (on behalf of his whole family) shared the following comments with the committee.
Although we have spent two and a half years in temporary accommodation and are eager to see a viable solution in place, we have serious reservations regarding this proposal. We urge the committee to assess the application on its merits and not fall into the trap of taking action under a hasty compulsion to close the book on this saga.
The applicant has designed an inherently unsafe proposal.
The proposal is for a single track realignment with shared vehicular and pedestrian access.
No measures are documented to manage shared usage effectively in the new section of road.
Crucially, no realignment away from the head of the re-activated mudslide at the gates of Woodington.The western turnaround, already constructed, fails to meet Highways safety criteria for visual splay.
Condition 9 had to be included retrospectively to add a passing place because a single track is not wide enough for two cars to pass.
The realignment of the curve at Woodington reduces the envelope of visibility.
No turnarounds are provided within the access road itself. Instead, larger vehicles must reverse the entire length of the 140m new single carriageway and the existing access road, some 274 metres in total. Reversing lorries, pedestrians, horses and bikes on a single track, round a bend with limited visibility is not a good mix. It will also hinder utility supply provision and delay emergency service delivery.
To mitigate risks & non-compliance with safety criteria, Paper B cites low volumes of traffic… but in the same breath encourages tourists to enjoy the scenic highway. The popularity and usage of the A3055 should not be underestimated to excuse poor design quality. Highways safety issues are not just the preserve of Highways, they are very much planning considerations.
Elimination of risk is better than mitigation. Why wasn’t the western turnaround located further away from a corner? Why isn’t a separate designated walkway & cycleway incorporated into the design. This would meet the key elements of DM2 to promote functional, accessible and safe development & also DM17 for sustainable travel.
Access needs to be functional and safe and the public need safe rights of way. This proposal fails on both counts.
This is a temporary scheme. The failure of the 2013 scheme was attributed to groundwater levels. Yet this scheme proposes nothing to address these issues, not even drainage on a micro scale.
The failed 2013 scheme trumpeted geotechnical ground beam and anchor stabilisation solutions, the current proposal does not.
½ a million is a lot to spend on a temporary project that is inherently unsafe, liable to fail and is largely futile. This feels like ground hog day.
The paper
Full details can be found in the paper below. Page down to the second item to see the officer’s report. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Paper B[1] by ventnorblog on Scribd
OnTheWight has published extensively on the Undercliff Drive landslide saga with over 120 articles to date.
Article edits
Article amended from being live coverage to decision made. Comments added from residents.
