Council Respond To Petition Over Ventnor Road Closures

“We understand the community’s desire to see Belgrave Road reopened and share that goal,” the Isle of Wight Council has said, in response to a newly-launched petition.

County Hall has issued a statement in light of an online appeal demanding rocks on Ventnor’s roads are “removed in seven days” and bemoaning the local authority’s “inefficiency and bureaucracy”.

James Milburn’s 38 Degrees plea, addressed from a “very angry Ventnor”, has reached nearly 350 signatures since it was started earlier this week.

A council spokesperson said:

“We sympathise with the residents and businesses of Ventnor and the inconvenience caused by the rockfall. We are working closely with Island Roads to remove debris and reopen the road as soon as possible.

“A recent specialist assessment has identified further risks, including unstable sections of rock that could fail in the future. To address this, Island Roads has recommended installing a rock netting system, similar to that used at Gills Cliff Road, to stabilise the cliff face and prevent further falls.

“Island Roads and the Isle of Wight Council are now progressing the necessary designs and approvals to begin this work on-site in the autumn."

They added the authority was also “exploring options to allow pedestrian access through the area as soon as it is safe to do so” and that it was committed to completing the “complex and specialist work as quickly and safely as possible”.

Mr Milburn’s petition says:

“Currently six of Ventnor’s roads are blocked unnecessarily by minor rock debris that take a distressing average of 14 months for Island Roads/the county council to clear.

“The latest rock, on Belgrave Road, is much bigger and the inefficiency of the Isle of Wight Council has ensured that the whole holiday season has been impacted by it.

“Despite inspections from the authorities, nothing has happened. The beach and beautiful esplanade has not been accessible from the west for two years due to the closure of Bath Road. The average clearance of other closures is climbing above 14 months.”

It can be accessed here: Get your rocks off Ventnor roads now | 38 Degrees

A related protest is due to be held on September 6 at 2pm from The Rex restaurant.