By Isle of Wight Observer
A councillor has criticised the continued closure of Firestone Copse Road, saying neither Island Roads nor Isle of Wight Council Highways has provided the evidence needed to justify what has been described as a “safety critical” decision.
Binstead & Fishbourne councillor, Ian Dore, said he wrote to both organisations earlier this month on behalf of residents and businesses who have been “hit hard” by the sudden closure, introduced overnight on February 10, under a 21‑day Temporary Traffic Regulation notice, with a longer closure notice expected to follow.
He said repeated requests for the information underpinning the decision have gone unanswered. According to Cllr Dore, no decision record, risk assessment, monitoring logs, near‑miss summaries, damage reports or written assessment of a one‑way alternative have been supplied. He also said there has been no explanation of who authorised the closure, who is responsible for it now, or who has the power to reopen the road.
“Safety is a primary concern and if there is a genuine safety risk, then it must be managed properly,” he said. “But ‘safety’ cannot be used as a headline without the evidence that supports it.”
Cllr Dore said the closure has disrupted daily routines and essential journeys, and is having a significant impact on businesses that rely on the route between villages. Some have reported a 30 to 50 per cent downturn since the road was shut, warning of potential financial and staffing consequences if the situation continues.
He said the issue also raises questions of public accountability, as Island Roads acts on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council in exercising highways powers. If concerns relate to driver behaviour or traffic volume, he argues a controlled one‑way system would be a more proportionate response than “severing communities without transparency”.
Island Roads have been approached for a comment.