Readers will remember the gathering at the end of July of residents affected by the Undercliff Drive landslip. At the end of the meeting, Mr Turner promised he’d pose the questions raised by residents with the council.
Below is the letter sent to the Managing Director of the Isle of Wight Council. Ed
Dear Mr Burbage
I recently attended a meeting with a number of constituents, who have been affected by the landslips in Undercliff Drive. It is apparent that the residents are concerned about the following points:
a. Are there plans for the IW Council to purchase any of the affected nine properties?
b. Has the IW Council applied for funding to repair the Undercliff from the Government’s flood grant?
c. Seemingly, there have been various proposals about short-term measures for the Undercliff Drive. Could you let me know about some of these short-term measures, as some residents feel that long-term measures should be sought?
d. Residents are unhappy about responses that have stated there is limited funding to repair the Undercliff Drive. Once resident noted that if Island Roads have the PFI Contract, can they not allocate more funds to the Undercliff Drive?
e. Why was the already damaged western side of the Undercliff Drive not secured before they began the works on the eastern side?
f. Which authority is responsible for the repair of the road, the IW Council or Island Roads?
g. Why has an independent inquiry not been held?
h. One resident was allegedly told by Cllr Stubbings that it was Island Roads to blame and that there was going to be an independent review.
I am happy to make it clear that I did not hear him make the alleged statement, which he emphatically denies.
Can you confirm whether this was the intention and that the IW Council voted against the notion to have an independent review?
i. Why has a failure report not been completed?
j. Some residents have suggested that if the Council does not repair Undercliff Drive, then they would have to re-route the traffic through Niton – would this be more costly?
k. Residents have heard that the work was contracted to housing specialists, not road specialists. Is this true?
l. The majority of residents feel that the IW Council is not taking responsibility as discussions have been going on for months and costs/available options are yet to be drawn up. Are there any plans that have been established, surrounding the future of the Undercliff Drive?
m. A few of the residents have complained about the lack of a response from both Island Roads and the IW Council, with regards to letters/oral questions submitted. Can you tell me how many letters are outstanding for this area? I would be grateful if you can respond to my constituents’ correspondence as soon as possible.
n. A major issue for residents is the misleading signage. Apparently, signs start as far back as the Royal Hotel and Ventnor Botanic Gardens believe that this is impacting the number of visitors. Some residents feel that cars need to be warned at certain points that there is no through-road. Presently, vehicles are traveling too far along the Undercliff Drive and are having to turn around in people’s properties.
o. Also there are concerns about the position of the barrier outside of Ventnor Botanic Gardens, with regards to the limited visibility of turning outside of the car park.
It would be helpful to me in answering this letter if you could provide me with a response to ease of the points raised above, in a form which I can forward to the residents of Undercliff Drive.
If you believe it is necessary for you to include an elected member in order to answer this query, and it would involve disclosing any details that might identify the constituent I would be grateful if you could contact me so that I can ascertain whether this is in order.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Turner, Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight
Article edits: upon request of Andrew Turner under (h) added “allegedly” and “I am happy to make it clear that I did not hear him make the alleged statement, which he emphatically denies”
