Island Roads East Cowes Works Branded An "Absolute Joke" By Residents

Roadworks in East Cowes that have been going on since March have been branded 'an absolute joke' by residents, as diversions put in place caused chaos in the town yesterday (Wednesday).

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Island Roads initially said the four-phase plan to upgrade York Avenue was starting early in the year while coronavirus restrictions were in place, “so the work can be completed before the start of the main tourism season”.

Because of a week delay, Island Roads is starting the final phase of the works, to resurface the main route in and out of the town, at the same time as phase three is underway.

Cones were put in place on Tuesday, the night before works started - causing confusion for residents as the junction of Adelaide Grove and York Avenue was shut to traffic. 

But Island Roads says it has been closed “In order to create more parking” and it means the previous restrictions can be lifted in Adelaide Grove between its junction with Yarborough Road and York Avenue.

But some residents dispute that, they posted online:

‘What an absolute joke! No parking anywhere in east cowes. What alternatives have we been offered for parking while these essential works are undertaken? I have had to park my car miles away and probably taken up a space for someone who lives there. (SIC)’

Diversions on quieter residential roads will be in place until June and residents posted on social media to pay their “houses were shaking” because of the sheer volume of traffic.

Other residents are calling for 20mph signs to be installed:

‘Cllr Karl Love and Cllr Stephen Hendry, will you please contact the powers that be as a matter of URGENCY, & demand that 20mph sighs are installed at both ends of Yarborough Road. The houses are literally shaking with the volume & speed of vehicles on the road. This just hasn't been thought through properly by anyone, & the residents should have been consulted for ideas. (SIC)’

Route 5 buses are currently unable to serve the Nursery Gardens stop on Adelaide Grove in East Cowes
Your nearest stop will be The Chapel stop situated further along the road. Apologies if affected.

— Southern Vectis (@SouthernVectis) May 20, 2021

York Avenue remains closed for reconstruction works and route 4 buses are unable to serve the following stops in East Cowes today:
🔸Osborne Cottage
🔸Connaught Road
🔸John Nash Avenue
Your nearest stops will be at Osborne House and Waitrose.

— Southern Vectis (@SouthernVectis) May 20, 2021

Cllr Karl Love, who represents the ward said thinks we should “abandon the scheme all together”, he told Isle of Wight Radio:

“In reality, I’m wondering whether we should abandon the scheme at this point and to come back and replace different way of addressing it but the work must be done at some point on York Av.  I’ve been repeatedly told that this work is absolutely essential and once completed will provide a long-term solution significantly improving the road service. (SIC)”

Cllr Karl Love took a video of the chaos that ensued in the town yesterday.

Business owners in the town told Isle of Wight Radio they are "disappointed" that the works are taking place now and not over lockdown and are concerned that their businesses will suffer as a result.

Cllr Love is particularly concerned a busy zebra crossing in the centre of the town that has been shut.

He told Isle of Wight Radio:

“As I’ve said I’m very concerned about the removal of the zebra crossing and I asked people to take extra care and help one another I’m crossing the roads until we can find a solution. I know that’s not a satisfactory response to many there is no doubt something needs to change quickly in order to avoid an accident. As I did say,  I questioned the use of clowns Road particularly the junction with York Avenue and how vehicles would safely negotiate that crossing the zebra crossing and then having to turn sharp right down the link road at the beginning."

He added:

"There is no easy solution to this and I’m trying to work to represent the views of residents and been putting them to Island Roads this morning in a meeting with their highways engineers in traffic managers."

He has written to John Metcalfe, the Isle of Wight Council CEO about the situation.

This morning (Thursday) Isle of Wight Radio’s been told cars are being towed away that have parked from Clarence Road and some are being ticketed.

Photo: supplied

A spokesman for Island Roads told Isle of Wight Radio the work will be completed “as soon as possible”.

He said:

“The diversion route in place as we undertake the final phase of the York Avenue improvement work is that which has always been intended and communicated to the local community."

Some residents were sent letters just 24 hours before works started.

He concluded:

“Information boards giving notice of the parking restrictions were placed out on the affected roads on Monday and cones were put out yesterday (Tuesday) in advance of the restrictions coming into force today (Wednesday).

“Residents will know that York Avenue was in great need of improvement and the current work should provide a long-term solution by excavating and strengthening the foundations as well as resurfacing it. During the project, we have also been co-ordinating work with utility companies to allow them to improve their services to hopefully reduce the need for further disruptive roadworks.

“York Avenue is a busy main road and it is unfortunately inevitable that this improvement work will cause some short-term local inconvenience. The East Cowes community, including its local elected members, has been extremely supportive of the project and have helped us by observing the traffic restrictions which are necessary in order to maintain a safe and effective diversion route.

“We can assure residents that we are doing all we can to complete the project as soon as possible.”

It comes as the Isle of Wight has been subject to a number of road works across the Island in recent months, including two main routes in and out of Shanklin - with work on Landguard Manor Road and traffic reportedly piling up at Skew Bridge yesterday.

See pictures of Landguard Manor Road below.

Details of the scheme’s progress will be given regularly by Twitter @Islandroads and via a dedicated page accessible from the homepage of www.islandroads.com