The Island’s MP Bob Seely has written to the Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Council proposing a plan to deal with the Military Road. The future of the Military Road is threatened by coastal erosion at three different sites along the road.
Mr Seely has set out a three-point plan for the road:
-
Councillors need to make an active decision to save the Military Road, overturning a 2010 decision. Overturning this previous decision will enable councillors to take action.
-
Develop a unified and holistic approach to the issue, dealing with the two most immediate danger areas first. These are known as Site 14 and Site 15, at Compton Farm and Brook Chine, respectively.
-
Seek funding from numerous sources, including funding which is already in place for road maintenance, low-interest government borrowing, or government grants. Conversations are ongoing with officials at the Department for Transport and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Whilst there is currently no obvious funding source for the entirety of the scheme, Mr Seely said that he would work with the Council to identify any funding available. Mr Seely said
“The Military Road is one of the Island’s most iconic roads and a landmark of the Island’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The road is also an important economic asset to the Island. We must work with the Council and the Government to find a long-term plan to preserve it.”