Island Roads Defends Firestone Copse Road Decision Amid Criticism

(c) Forestry England

Island Roads has defended its decision not to introduce a one-way system on Firestone Copse Road on the Isle of Wight, after criticism from a local councillor.

The issue was raised at a full Isle of Wight Council meeting last Monday (March 16), where concerns were voiced about the lack of consultation with local representatives.

The road was temporarily closed in February during major works by Southern Water on nearby Elenors Grove, in an effort to prevent it being used as a diversion route.

It has since reopened to two-way traffic.

In response to a public question from Mr L. Thomas, transport committee chair Councillor Julie Jones-Evans said the decision not to make the road one-way was based on safety concerns.

She said that introducing a one-way system can lead to increased vehicle speeds, and that any driver ignoring the restriction could cause more serious incidents than if the road remained two-way.

Councillor Clare Mosdell strongly criticised the decision, saying local ward councillors and parish representatives were not consulted and describing the process as unacceptable.

Councillor Phil Dore, who also represents the area, said he agreed that there had been no discussion with ward councillors prior to the decision.

In response, Island Roads said safety is the primary consideration when managing road closures and diversions, particularly on a limited highway network.

A spokesperson said decisions must be made with clear accountability in mind and that safety should not be compromised for convenience.

They added that while local views are considered, concerns were not raised with them until after the decision had been made and the road closed.

Southern Water confirmed the works on Elenors Grove have now been completed ahead of schedule, with the road reopening on March 11.

The company said it worked closely with Island Roads to minimise disruption and highlighted that the project forms part of a wider £5 million investment to improve water supply resilience on the Island.