By Isle of Wight Observer
The IW Council says that efforts to reopen Belgrave Road in Ventnor are progressing, with Island Roads and the council aiming to begin stabilisation works this autumn.
The road has been closed since March, after tons of debris fell from a roadside rockface, damaging the highway and structures below. A recent specialist assessment revealed further risks, including unstable rock that could cause future collapses and frequent smaller falls.
To address these concerns, Island Roads has proposed installing a rock netting system – similar to that used at nearby Gills Cliff Road – to stabilise the cliff face and prevent further debris from falling.
Designs and approvals are now being fast-tracked to allow work to begin on site later this year. “We know the Ventnor community wants to see Belgrave Road open as soon as possible,” said Michelle Love, IW Council’s highways service director. “We’re doing everything we can to get the job done.”
Island Roads Joanne Saunders added: “This is complex, specialist work requiring careful planning and professional oversight.”
Contractors and designers are now finalising the methodology, with plans to carry out tasks simultaneously to shorten the overall timeline. Pedestrian access through the site may be introduced once it can be safely managed.
However, Conservative group leader, Ed Blake, criticised the delay. He said: “The continued closure of Belgrave Road – now stretching to eight months – is deeply frustrating for residents already impacted by the long-term closures of Bath and Southgrove Roads. Bureaucratic hurdles and stalled legal disputes have left Ventnor gridlocked, while promised works remain invisible and progress feels painfully slow.”
Mal Butler