A spending package worth £600,000 will be spent on ‘essential works’ on the landslip-hit Leeson Road as part of the Isle of Wight Council’s approved 2025/26 budget.
Funding will be targeted at five areas: data collection and evaluation, ground movement surveys, a permanent signage and diversion system, associated works and project management.
County Hall said the highways maintenance funding, distributed across ‘several critical initiatives’ shows its commitment to the upkeep and improvement of local infrastructure ‘for the safety and benefit of our residents’.
The investment comes more than a year after a catastrophic landslip hit the upper section of the Bonchurch thoroughfare in December 2023, leading to an extended closure.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“We will cover the increased costs associated with collecting and evaluating data from the newly installed monitoring equipment. This step is crucial for accurately assessing the condition of the road and surrounding area.
“New surveys will be conducted to detect any ground movement. These surveys are vital for understanding both the short-term and long-term stability of the road.”
The council said the actions were based on ‘recommendations from geological reports commissioned by the Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads’.
Collected data will feed into an Emergency Response Plan to ensure any ‘necessary road closures are supported by solid evidence’.
Setting out the remaining investment, County Hall said:
“Funds will be allocated for permanent signage to facilitate road closures and diversions, ensuring clear communication and safety for all road users.
“Additional works will be undertaken to support the road closure process if required. A project manager will be appointed on a fixed-term contract to develop long-term options for the future of the road network.”
The council added that “permanent signage” meant “fixed road signs” in “strategic positions along the route to Leeson Road”.
They would be “activated in the event of an emergency road closure”.
The £600,000 package is ‘fully funded’ by the council’s budget, with no Whitehall funding being provided for the works ‘to date’.
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