Over 300 local residents packed into St Catherine’s Church in Ventnor to hear the Council and Island Road’s plans to reopen Leeson Road following the landslip at Bonchurch on 10th December. With national media interest it was standing room only as the Isle of Wight Council’s Director for Community Services and the boss of Island Roads addressed residents and answered questions. Island Roads confirmed that the integrity of Leeson Road had not been directly affected by the landslip but monitoring equipment for the surrounding area had not so far been installed. Consequently, they are unable to deem Leeson Road safe enough to reopen.
There was frustration among the public gathered that Island Roads had been slow to install monitoring equipment and get the road reopened. Joe Robertson, Chairman of the Council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee, spoke at the meeting and said, “I am concerned that the Council and Island Roads are slow to respond to major events such as the landslip. It means that disruption is worse than it might otherwise be. I urge the Council to come up with a comprehensive plan for the future of the whole A3055, including Undercliff Drive, and reopen Leeson Road as soon as possible.
Local Councillor and businessman Ed Blake also spoke and urged residents to channel their frustration to achieve positive change. He also called for Leeson Road to be reopened without further delays.
