By Carole Dennett
Furious Parkhust residents took matters into their own hands yesterday, physically removing concrete bollards installed by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) that have blocked access to their homes since the beginning of May.
The bollards, placed across Clissold Road in Parkhurst during roadworks on Horsebridge Hill, were meant to be temporary. But long after the works finished, they remained in place, cutting off a vital route to Parkhurst Road for dozens of households, a hundred of whom have legal rights of access over the road written into their property deeds.
Despite repeated questions from the IW Observer and others at the beginning of August, the MoJ refused to comment on who authorised the obstruction, whether residents were consulted, or how the move complies with property and public access laws. One resident, Margaret Cassell, said then: “All we want is an answer from the Ministry of Justice as to why our road has been blocked.”
Parkhurst councillor Andrew Garrett and IW West MP Richard Quigley both slammed the lack of transparency, warning that the barriers disproportionately affected disabled residents and could breach public rights of way under the Highways Act.
After mounting pressure, the MoJ finally backed down, promising to replace the bollards with security barriers that would restore access for residents and emergency services – while still deterring traffic from using the estate as a rat-run. The residents welcomed the news and waited with mounting frustration for the security barriers to be introduced.
A notice last week that work was to be carried out on adjoining Standen Road left residents concerned that emergency vehicle access to their homes would be impossible. They say that the MoJ and prison officials ignored their emails.
With no sign of action and the looming prospect of roadworks starting after the weekend, residents finally snapped and took the law into their own hands. Yesterday afternoon, they gathered and removed the bollards themselves, pledging to do so again and again if they’re reinstated.
Prison officials instructed a private security guard who was present to call the police, but failed to attend themselves. The police had not arrived before those gathered had dispersed.
Mrs Cassell said: “We gave them every opportunity to work with us, but enough is enough. They have ignored our legal rights for long enough. If they replace the bollards we will just keep moving them until they give in”.
The MoJ has been approached for a statement.
