Slipping and sliding

The Island has suffered another deluge of rainfall this week causing delays, road closures and more misery.

Morton Common, the main road between Sandown and Brading, has once again been closed after reopening earlier in the week. A landslip at Shorwell Shute on Monday has also caused diversions and delays while the Yarmouth to Freshwater cycle route has again been closed because of high water levels.

Regarding the landslip at Shorwell, an Island Roads spokesman confirmed: “Shorwell Shute is currently closed following a substantial landslip on Monday morning when a large section, weighing an estimated 200 tonnes, slipped from the bank of the cutting onto the highway.

“The landslip follows the recent period of heavy rainfall and the area remains active due to saturated and unstable material.

“Until the site stabilises, it is not safe to remove the fallen material, as doing so, may cause further movement. We continue to monitor the situation and will liaise with all relevant parties including landowners, in order to progress this matter.”

Among other closures is the sea wall structure between Colwell Chine Road and Totland Pier which reopened eight years ago following a landslide. A Totland Parish Council spokesman confirmed: “It has become necessary to close a section of the coastal path known as T34, this path runs between Colwell Chine Road and Totland Pier. The closure is to allow investigations and works to take place to part of the seawall structure, as a void under it has been found.”

There were long delays getting into Newport yesterday (Thursday) and across the Island with localised flooding.