Residents further east from the recent landslip at Undercliff Drive got in touch with OnTheWight on Tuesday last week concerned over new cracks that have appeared in the road.
Spreading deeper and faster than usual
The cracks have appeared heading east from where Island Roads are installing one hundred, ten metre pilings into the road.
We’re told by residents that cracks do often appear in the winter and the road becomes spongy, but these cracks appear to be much larger and spreading much faster than usual.
One resident with strong local knowledge recalled that the power cables had been shifted to the land side of the road prior the concrete pilings were put in and the cracks may have been created as a result. Other residents added that at least one cement mixer was needed for each of the hundred pilings, increasing traffic of heavy plant on the roads.
Council slow in providing answers
We got in touch with the council on Tuesday last week to ask whether the council were concerned about the new cracks and this morning, six days later, they have replied saying,
“The council was contacted by a home owner who noticed some minor cracks in the road. An officer has visited the area and we do not have any concerns for the stability of the ground at present.
“We would though ask any residents who notice any cracks form to contact the council if they appear within their property, or to contact Island Roads if they form on the highway.”
A member of the John Peck team confirmed that where cracking has appeared around one of the lamp posts, this was due to heavy plant sitting at that spot.
