"Closure of Military Road is imminent" warns Jill Wareham as cliff falls again

9.23.00am GMT Wed 24th Feb 2010

Jill Wareham, Liberal Democrat Prospective MP for the Island, is calling again for urgent discussions to take place to save the Military Road. Jill has been monitoring the cliff falls at the narrowest point between the cliff edge and the road for the past five weeks. In this time, the cliff has fallen at least five metres. At that rate, she said, the road will have to be closed completely in a month's time.

Jill added: "The Council has now put barriers alongside this part of the road and traffic lights for one way traffic. The work on the viaduct at Brighstone has been postponed from this year to next year. I am beginning to think that this Council wants to forget about the 'Back of the Wight' with the complete failure to tackle the Military Road and the Undercliff Road problems.

"If the Isle of Wight Council waits until March 30th to discuss the road it is likely to be closed completely. There appears to be a complete lack of urgency - where is the local Ward Councillor and Cabinet member for transport?

"The loss of this part of the road would have a devastating effect on the residents of Brook, the leisure users of Compton Bay and will have a major impact on the businesses in Freshwater Bay."