Ten years after it was built, work to connect the ‘road to nowhere’ in East Cowes has started — but there is still no date for it to open.
Saunders Way, which diverts past the Hawthorn Meadows estate, was part of plans for the 2007-approved major housing development.
Ongoing legal disputes
The opening of the road has been held up for many years due to ongoing legal discussions and disputes between the Isle of Wight Council and two other land owners.
The road, which was designed to take large lorries, serving businesses at Kingston Wharf, off narrow residential streets, was broken up into five sections, with different parties owning different sections.
Only first three parts officially adopted
Until recently, only the first three parts had been officially adopted onto the council’s highway network, meaning the public could use it.
Saunders Way though remains a one-way street because the junction connecting it to Kingston Road has never been completed.
Agreement was reached last month
Work has finally started on the connection to Kingston Road after an agreement was reached last month.
However, the crucial fourth section, owned by the nearby power station, is still subject to legal discussions.
Until that has been resolved — and the section adopted to the highway network — Saunders Way will remain closed.
Hendry: A resolution was getting closer
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said once an agreement is complete, an idea of when it will open will become clearer.
An optimistic note was sounded at an East Cowes Town Council meeting by local councillor Stephen Hendry, who said while the ‘issue had been going on forever, a resolution was getting closer and it would be open one day’.
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
Image: © Google Maps/Streetview – taken in 2011 and not changed since
