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Undercliff Drive Reinstatement Scheme

09/01/08

The Isle of Wight Council have, on the 8th January 2008 received a letter from the Secretary for State for the Department of Transport advising that she has decided not to confirm the Compulsory Purchase Order and Side Roads Order (as requested by the Council), in relation to the Undercliff. The Orders have therefore been returned to the Council. A copy of the letter from the Secretary of State can be viewed by clicking this link.

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A report was presented to Members at a meeting of the Cabinet on the 20th November 2007 to determine the future of this scheme. The report outlined several issues, namely:-

The estimated costs of the scheme, at the date of the report were £18,025, and were expected to increase by spring 2008
The current BCR for the scheme is -2.8 and the DfT has indicated that a minimum BCR of 1.5 would be required before funding for the scheme could be confirmed, and it was not thought possible to improve the BCR
Even if DfT funding was available, there is a substancial gap in the costs which the Council need to fund from its own resources, or if the DfT funding was not available the Council would need to fund the full cost of the scheme
The scheme represents a temporary solution

Members, upon considering the report resolved not to proceed with the currently proposed scheme, and they resolved as follows:-

i. To undertake a detailed survey of the alternative route via Whitwell in order to ascertain to what extent it would need improvement to make it suitable to function as part of the Strategic Road Network (SRN), including the feasibility of bringing the route up to principal A road standards. Investigative options for Undercliff Drive which may include maintaining single lane working, closing the road at particular points or investigating options for developing a “green way” along the Undercliff Drive.
ii. To confirm to the secretary of State that the Council do not wish to proceed with the Compulsory Purchase and Side Road Orders.
iii. To continue to discuss funding options with Government Office South Est (GOSE) and the Department for Transport (DfT).

The Report and minutes can be viewed in full by clicking here.

Introduction

The A3055 Undercliff Drive is an important section of the Island's highway infrastructure that links the West Wight area to the coastal towns of Ventnor, Shanklin and Sandown and the rest of the East Wight.

The area of the Island known as 'Undercliff' became inhabited in Victorian times. It contains villas and country houses and is now home to many residential properties plus a number of local businesses including hotels, campsites, market gardens and the Botanic Gardens. It is also an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), and a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). The Undercliff is a popular tourist destination, with many local businesses relying upon the A3055 as a strategic route in highways terms linking the southeast of the Island to the southwest. The alternative is a long deviation around several local villages.

Periodic damage had occurred to the road over a long period of time necessitating its realignment in the 1920s and as a result of the geographical features of the Undercliff, including gault clay, greensand and sandrock, backed to the north by a substantial cliff, the area is prone to slippage. In 2001 there was a major landslide that caused substantial damage to the highway. It was this landslide that led to the temporary works that have taken place and this that forms the background to the decision to stabilise the area for the foreseeable future.

Planning permission for a comprehensive scheme of engineering works to take place was granted in 2005. The temporary works carried out following the earlier landslide have ensured access has been maintained to date to properties along the Undercliff Drive, in part along a new section of carriageway.

Four sections of the highway have been identified as requiring remedial engineering works to reinstate the highway, including moving the route inland at one location. The severe damage means that this is the only technical solution as a 'make do and mend' approach is no longer possible.