Residents 'Chasing Companies For Answers' Over Road Closures In Wootton

A lack of consultation and pre-warning for a set of road closures near Wootton Bridge has left residents “chasing different companies for answers”, an Isle of Wight councillor has said.

Cllr Sarah Redrup, the Liberal Democrat representative for Wootton Bridge, pointed to “widespread confusion” among locals over the bank holiday weekend, with closure signage on Lushington Hill “changed overnight without explanation” last week.

There are closures expected on Lushington Hill, Briddlesford Road, Alverstone Road, Brocks Copse Road and Combley Road next month.

Alverstone Road and Brock Copse Road are scheduled to be closed at some point between June 2 and June 13 for crack sealing.

The closures are required to allow Island Roads to reconstruct the footway and/or carriageway along with any related drainage and preparation works.

Lushington Hill will be closed between June 5 and June 6 to enable Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) repairs.

Briddlesford Road is to be closed between today and June 16, as enforced by Southern Gas Network (SGN).

The closure is for engineers to replace gas pipes.

‘Routine maintenance works’ by Island Roads will mean Combley Road is shut between June 4 and 6.

The five closures follow two months of work on the nearby Park Road which was extended by an extra two weeks.

Park Road did not initially open as planned on Saturday, causing further traffic disruption.

After an outcry from residents and Cllr Redrup, it opened late on Sunday morning.

She told the press:

“Unfortunately, the situation has been disappointing. Residents and businesses should be part of the conversation when this sort of work is planned, and at the very least, they deserve clear, timely information.

“Over the bank holiday weekend, there was widespread confusion, especially when signage was changed overnight without explanation.

“With multiple contractors involved, people were left chasing different companies for answers. That’s simply not acceptable.”

Cllr Redrup added that ‘transparency and proactive communication’ should be ‘non-negotiable’.