At last night’s Ventnor Town Council, Cllr Buster Bartlett asked his fellow councillors to consider adopting the following statement (see below) in relation to the future of the Undercliff Drive.
Cllr Brian Lucas seconded the proposal by Cllr Bartlett and added that he had helped on the proposal in order that discussions move forward. He felt that every time the subject of Undercliff Drive was raised at the TC, that past history was dragged up which didn’t help in deciding what would be best for the future of the road, residents and businesses affected.
Returned to an ‘A’ Road?
Cllr Rob Mew welcomed the proposal, but added that he felt the road should be returned to an ‘A’ class road should be opened up to heavy good vehicles, coaches and double decker buses.
He stated that Whitwell Road would never be changed to an ‘A’ class road because of the difficult junctions at Whitwell and Niton and that it was necessary to allow coaches through the Undercliff Drive otherwise they’d bypass Ventnor and the town would lose out.
Cllr Lucas pointed out that according to the Volvo Web site, one of their coaches weighs at least 30 tonnes and regular use of the road by 30 tonne coaches would only cause more problems for the fragile road. He supported repairs to the road and restrictions of light traffic.
Cllr Bartlett pointed out that he had been policing the road for 28 years and that if heavy traffic was allowed back on the road, very soon the road would collapse again and never be rebuilt. Leaving the village of St Lawrence to die.
Cllr Mew voted against the proposal, Cllr Debby Robinson abstained from voting and all others in attendance voted to adopt the statement.
Proposal – presented by Cllr Buster Bartlett
This town council is keen to put the years of uncertainty, disruption and unproductive expenditure aside and look forward to establishing a long term future for the Undercliff Drive Statement.
To this end they welcome the IOWC Council’s recent pledge to maintain the road and employ a geotechnical consultant to facilitate measured improvements.
This town council requires the Undercliff Drive to be permanently kept open for traffic as follows, under these criteria:
For all cars and light commercial vehicles under 10t laden weight
For local single-decker buses.
For service vehicles serving the Undercliff area residents and businesses
A 30mph speed limit to apply throughout.
These traffic restrictions to be better signed and positively policed.
The surface of the road to be re-levelled in those localised areas where extreme changes in level currently occur. In the event of future minor and localised ground movement, remedial resurfacing to be carried out expeditiously, to enable the road to reopen without due delay.
The road to be diverted around the area currently controlled by traffic lights. Reconstruction of the road infrastructure to be carried out in sections, out of season, as budgeted funds allow.
The Whitwell Road route to be kept in good order to accommodate the heavy traffic and holiday coaches which are not to be permitted on the Undercliff Drive.
