The Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads have been working with Southern Water to agree a plan around important work to maintain the sewer at Newport Road (the Graben) in Ventnor, which was discussed at last week’s public meeting.
The feeling of the meeting was that it was better for Southern Water to undertake the required work as soon as possible rather than risk the situation becoming worse meaning more lengthy emergency repair works may be required later in the year, possibly at the height of the tourism season.
We have therefore agreed that Southern Water should undertake this work between June 17 and June 28. Because deep excavations are required, a 24-hour road closure will be necessary during this period.
We have worked with Southern Water to design a traffic management plan and diversion routes that will ensure the safe movement of traffic.
June 17 is the soonest practical start date for the work given the steps needed in advance of the road closure. These include advertising and implementing the various road orders and giving residents enough required notice of the diversion. The network also has to be clear, where possible, of other works that may affect the diversion route.
A council/Island Roads spokesperson said: “We realise that this work will inevitably cause disruption, particularly while Leeson Road remains closed.
“However the feeling of the recent public meeting in Ventnor was clear that Southern Water are able to undertake the work as soon as possible ahead of the main holiday season and before the ongoing movement at the Graben causes further major damage to infrastructure which would take far longer to remedy.”
Meanwhile the council is currently commissioning safety work to enable Gills Cliff Road to be re-opened as soon as possible. Unfortunately, though this work is being done as a priority, it will not be possible to re-open Gills Cliff Road prior to the start of the Graben work.
The council is currently engaged in legal action to secure repairs to the retaining wall adjacent to Bath Road which is delaying the ability to reopen this route in the town.
The spokesperson added: “The current volume of road users on Ocean View Road is not expected to change as a result of the Newport Road closure, as this is already the favoured route people take into the town.”
Photo: Bath Road