Future of Isle of Wight road uncertain

Reporting back to Niton and Whitwell Parish Council, Cllr Claire Critchison said she had been advised in a briefing by the council’s strategic manager for highways, Jayne Dando, there was ‘no option for the council to re-open the road’.

Clarification from the Isle of Wight Council, confirmed without external funding there are no plans to undertake such a major highways infrastructure project.

The authority said the option is ‘always open’ should it wish to pursue future bids to reconstruct the road.

The road has been closed for seven years after suffering significant landslips in February 2014 which saw the road become unstable and nine houses landlocked.

The council applied for money under the government’s local highways maintenance challenge fund but it was made clear by officers that the £2.1 million awarded would be insufficient to reinstate the road.

A council spokesperson said it was also questioned whether such investment for a new route would be value for money in the long term, given the underlying geology and hydrology of the area and history of significant landslips.

The once-vital route between St Lawrence and Niton now has traffic issues, the parish council says, with single track roads, in places, now serving as the main highway routes into the area, which can be easily blocked.

It was a promise of former Isle of Wight Council leader, Dave Stewart, to reopen the road and a consultation during his term in office found 58 per cent of respondents were in favour of reinstating the road to vehicle traffic — although 40 per cent were against the proposal and the remaining few were neutral.

Trying to find answers for her constituents since stepping into the position, Cllr Critchison said the future of the road was a main concern, but was told the bid put in to central government for funding was not accepted so there were no plans to reinstate the road.

She said: “We still need to look at it a bit further and check all avenues have been looked at. If we cannot open it, perhaps we look at other uses — what that may be, I don’t know. Even if that is improving what is already there, making it more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, but it is just knowing where we are, going forward.”

The Isle of Wight Council said it will be looking closely at the position ‘taking into account the divided local opinions’.

It said there has been a very positive reaction to maintaining the route as a walking and cycling option only, saying it provides a popular, pleasant, environmentally friendly route.

While the funding was not used for Undercliff Drive, the Department for Transport gave permission for the council to use the £2.1 million to address other priority highway safety schemes, including future work at the Smallbrook roundabout, Forest Road/Whitehouse Road junction, the ongoing Island speed review and improvements to the bus infrastructure.

It is also going toward improvements done under the Equalities Act, providing features like dropped kerbs.