A parish councillor has vented frustration about the “ridiculous” number of road closures on the Isle of Wight, telling a public meeting there were 37 last Monday (20th April 2026).
Councillor Brin Martin told Niton and Whitwell parishioners of a journey from his Niton home to Ventnor, mentioning five closures and “no exits” from a roundabout, at Whitwell Village Hall on Monday (27th April).
‘Pretty cheesed off’
The representative said he was “pretty cheesed off” at this point and submitted a Freedom of Information request to County Hall, asking how many road closures there were on 20th April.
Other questions included how many were planned and manned, the number of staff working on them and the volume of temporary traffic lights in operation.
FOI uncovers 37 closures in a single day
He told attendees,
“There were 30 road closures planned in operation on Monday 20, there were six unplanned ones and one of them was unoperated.
“The remarkable thing is – they couldn’t tell me how many staff they had working – either Isle of Wight Council or Island Roads. They said they don’t hold that information.
“I’ve written back to them, said I’m not going to pursue this anymore…flogging a dead horse but how the hell can you not know who’s working on your road – you have to pay them, don’t you?
“It is frustrating and I know we need to bear with it but it’s just ridiculous, the number of closures on the Island.”
County councillor echoes concerns
Earlier in the meeting, Green Party county councillor for Chale, Niton and Shorwell Claire Critchison said she had received “a lot” of comments from people about the volume of roadworks.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS),
“I understand people’s frustration with the numerous roadworks.
“When key routes are closed it affects daily lives and I know many are anxious about how much time and fuel they need to get around.
“The last few weeks have seen almost everywhere on the Island affected.
We do need the infrastructure upgrades but coupled with a backlog due to the wet weather and a need to get as much done before the summer season it has created road chaos.
“Many of the large projects in the south of the Island have thankfully been completed but there will be further short closures for carriageway and ditching works.”
Island Roads has been approached for comment.
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
