Islanders 'frustrated and angry' over roadworks

Residents and business owners on the Isle of Wight have said they are "frustrated and angry" with "badly organised" continuing roadworks.

Southern Water has introduced a one‑way system on Horsebridge Hill and Elenors Grove, blocking access towards Cowes from Newport until 17 April.

The main road into Ryde from Newport is also affected and the A3054 at Fishbourne has a one‑way system and diversions in place until 10 April.

In a joint statement, Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads said: "There is clearly a high number of roadworks on the island currently, which we recognise are causing inconvenience and we thank residents for their patience."

Ward of Binstead and Fishbourne, Ian Dore, said he had received a slew of emails and social media messages from residents concerned about the impact of the road closure.

He said: "The move has severed what many consider to be a vital link, forcing drivers to take lengthy detours for work, school runs, caring responsibilities and visits to relatives."

The council and Island Roads said there were various factors behind the level of roadworks.

In a statement, they said: "The island is heavily reliant on tourism and major work on main roads is discouraged in the holiday season.

"Utility works are responsible for around 70% of roadworks and our role is to coordinate all highway work as efficiently as possible."

It said "coordination becomes more difficult when utility projects are substantial", adding: "It is extremely hard for us to plan highway work without causing some overlap."

Sharon Hinallas has owned Italian Touch clothing shop in Wootton Bridge for seven and a half years and described the roadworks as "horrific".

The roadworks outside her store have left the "busiest road" on the Isle of Wight "currently empty", she said.

"The biggest problem is the misleading road signs saying 'road closed', which is putting all our customers off, when the businesses here are still open.

"This is worse than Covid, there's no support or compensation for the loss of work."

A spokesperson for Southern Water said: "We're sorry for the disruption these works are causing for customers and businesses in Wootton.

"We have worked closely with Island Roads to minimise the impact, including planning the programme around peak holiday periods and major island events, and installing additional signage to highlight that businesses remain open."

Better Days Cafe founder Kirsty Chapman, from Ventnor, said road closures had led to "very long detours" around the island.

A landslide more than a year ago that closed a main road near the cafe and was "no one's fault but nature", she said.

"Thankfully it has reopened but, during that time, the town became a ghost town.

"Businesses really suffered, it was worrying and we very nearly had to close."

Brow and lash technician Kiera Robinson described the roadworks as "annoying and frustrating".

The 19-year-old said they meant she had to perform a "juggling act", taking two buses to get from St Helens to work at her salon in Newport.

"The roadworks are making my days longer, I'm heavily reliant on the buses and sometime because of the roadworks the buses are delayed or cancelled," she said.

"Everyone on the island is affected. I would say I have lost up to 50% of my income because of the roadworks and flooding, its been a nightmare."

General manager of Southern Vectis bus company Richard Tyldsley said: "It's just as frustrating for us as it is our customers.

"We just want to operate our bus services how we normally would and we're not able to do that.

"It has a knock-on effect to our customers, our bus drivers and our general operation, it's really difficult."