Many families who previously lived on Undercliff Drive, victims of the landslip, were left without access to their own homes at the weekend after Island Roads put up new locked hoardings. They weren’t given notice of this, nor were they issued keys.
The hoardings, at the Niton end of the landslip site, were erected at the end of last week with, we understand, only two households being given access by Island Roads.
Locked out of site
One family got in touch with OnTheWight on Saturday morning after discovering the new security measures on Saturday morning when visiting the site to gain access to their home. They were confronted by a locked padlock on the hoardings with no way of gaining access to their home.
Island Roads had posted a phone number on the hoardings for residents to call if they required access, but as anyone who has been through the Undercliff will know, the chances of getting a mobile signal are slim.
Just by chance, one of the residents who had been given access to the code appeared and was able to let the family through.
Access required at all times
Obviously, residents who were forced to move out of their properties earlier in the year still require access to their homes and belongings. As well as for themselves, they may also need to allow access to loss adjusters, utility service providers and other bodies.
OnTheWight understands that after emails to Island Roads and the council at the weekend, this morning the code for access was given to the family locked out, but it’s unclear whether all residents have been informed yet.
