By Carole Dennett
Recently elected Reform councillor, Les Kirkby, is determined to lift the lid on why so many roadworks appear suddenly across the Isle of Wight, causing repeated headaches for businesses, residents, and visitors. He says the scale of “immediate” works carried out by utility companies explains much of the disruption that has become a daily frustration for Islanders.
After Cllr Kirkby discussed the issues with the IW Observer, we asked Island Roads for detailed information. Over the last year, utility companies have logged hundreds of ‘Immediate Emergency’ and ‘Immediate Urgent’ works – categories that allow them to start digging with minimal notice. ‘Immediate Emergency’ works are supposed to be used when there is a danger to people or property, while ‘Immediate Urgent’ works are designed to cover situations requiring action straight away. In both cases, the utility company only has to notify the Highway Authority within two hours of starting, or by 10am the next day if works begin overnight.
The figures show the scale of the problem. Electricity supplier SSEN logged 265 ‘Immediate Urgent’ works. Southern Gas Networks (SGN) recorded 139 ‘Immediate Emergency’ works, and Southern Water – by far the largest offender – carried out an astonishing 1,527 ‘Immediate Urgent’ works, in the last 12 months – an average of more than four a day.
The national position, given in evidence to the cross-party parliamentary Transport Select Committee, by the Department of Transport, quoting data for 2023–2024, shows that utility companies apply for 22.7 per cent of works under ‘Immediate Urgent’ category across England, but on the Island Southern Water are carrying out more than 70 per cent of their works without proper notice.
Cllr Kirkby understands the system, having spent 30 years as a network and distribution inspector with the water company, dealing with everything from getting water from reservoirs to homes and businesses, customer enquiries, and highway repairs. He said the numbers “go a long way to explaining why so many roadworks appear without warning”. He added: “Island Roads often gets blamed, but in many cases, they don’t even know a utility company has started digging until the notice comes in a couple of hours later. When you have more than 1,800 immediate works in a year, it’s no wonder people feel the Island is constantly being dug up. The system allows utilities to act fast, but it doesn’t protect residents or businesses from the fallout.
“I’m convinced that these roadworks categories are being misused in some cases, and I am starting to try to get improvements with Southern Water, who are the worst offenders.”
Poor signage is part of the problem
Cllr Kirkby says he believes there is also a widespread misunderstanding about responsibility. Utility companies are responsible for their own signage, and any consultation on planned works. Island Roads is the contractor which delivers street works co-ordination, but the Isle of Wight Council retains legal responsibility for the highways network and Traffic Management Act duties to keep the highway network operating efficiently.
“The breakdown in communication between the Council and Island Roads has made a difficult situation worse,” Cllr Kirkby added. “If the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, the public ends up stuck in queues. I’m determined to improve this.”
Reform Group leader, Cllr James Whelan, backed Cllr Kirkby’s stance, saying: “Les has already shown he’s willing to get into the detail and challenge the way things are done. Islanders deserve clearer information, better co-ordination, and fewer surprises. We can’t stop emergency works, but we can absolutely manage them better.”
Cllr Kirkby plans to push for stronger reporting requirements, clearer public communication, and a more proactive relationship between the Council, Island Roads and the utilities. “This isn’t about pointing fingers,” he said. “It’s about fixing a system that isn’t working for the people who live and work here.”
Southern Water were approached for comment but had not responded by the time the IW Observer went to print last night.
What about hedges?
Cllr Whelan said he had also been contacted by residents worried about dangerous hedges obscuring visibility at junctions, with many assuming Island Roads was responsible. “People see an overgrown hedge blocking their view and immediately blame Island Roads,” he said. “But once you dig into the detail, again, the picture is not as clear-cut as expected. Ownership of the hedgerows matters when residents are trying to understand who should act.”
An Island Roads spokesman confirmed the position, explaining that “the great majority of hedges on the network are the responsibility of the landowner. Island Roads maintains the hedges for which it is responsible through routine maintenance.
Hedge notices can be issued to the landowners where these overhang the highway, as it is their responsibility to cut back or maintain their property.”
Cllr Whelan said clearer communication all round would help reduce frustration and ensure safety concerns were dealt with promptly.
A case in point…
The Island’s ongoing battle with poorly planned roadworks was highlighted this week after ‘Immediate Urgent’ works brought unexpected disruption to one of the Island’s biggest business events. On Tuesday, the IW Chamber of Commerce held its annual Business Expo at Ryde School — the most significant networking day of the year for many Island companies. Queen’s Road was clear in the morning, allowing delegates to arrive without issue. But at lunchtime, Southern Water began digging up the road, with a notification issued at 1.11pm stating that works were starting at 11.40am the same day.
The excavation was close to the kerb, but material removed from the hole had been piled up on the road, blocking the carriageway. Because ‘Immediate Urgent’ works bypass the usual planning process and as notice is often only given after works start, there was no opportunity for discussion about keeping at least one lane open, or using alternative traffic management.
Cllr Les Kirkby went to the scene to investigate. He said: “The leak had been running since last Thursday, yet Southern Water marked it in the wrong place – it was actually in the pavement. When I asked the Clancy crew who decided to close the road, they told me it was their traffic management company, QTM. I’m awaiting explanations, because at worst this could have been managed with priority boards or a one way system. With Upton Road shut due to a serious gas leak causing further delays, Ryde was needlessly gridlocked again. I revisited the site at 7am on Wednesday and confirmed what I saw – poor working practices by Southern Water’s contractors, leaving Ryde to pay the price.”
One exhibitor at the Expo said: “Everything seemed fine when we arrived, but leaving was absolute chaos. It took me more than an hour to get back to Newport and I’m sure it affected the number of visitors to the event. I really could have done without that at the end of a full-on working day in the exceedingly hot weather.”
Chris Cornford