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Low risk of further island rockfalls, council says

BBC Rocks and debris strewn across Belgrave Road, and at the back of the road, plastic bollards have been crushed by the weight of rocks on top of them. Buildings built alongside the cliff face are visible further away. BBC
Debris and rocks fell onto Belgrave Road in Ventnor on 7 March

There is a low risk of further rockfalls onto an Isle of Wight road that has been blocked since a major collapse earlier this month, a council has said.

Debris and large boulders crashed onto Belgrave Road in Ventnor on 7 March when part of the cliff face gave way. No-one was hurt.

An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said further work needed permission from a landowner to assess the stability of the remaining cliff face before specialists could clear debris.

They said a "more specific timescale" on the potential work would be shared with residents "once a plan has been agreed".

Island Echo A rockfall has spilled down a cliff and covered a coastal road.Island Echo
Roads in the area were closed while engineers assess the situation

"To progress further the Isle of Wight Council requires permission from the landowner to access the third-party land," the spokesperson added.

"We will then be able to assess the stability of the remaining rock face and the adjacent private structures. The council will then instruct Island Roads to carry out a detailed assessment by a geological consultant."

Work to protect the Isle of Wight from coastal erosion could cost up to £100m, a council officer said last week.

At the time, a Hampshire police spokesperson said there had been no injuries or damage to properties reported.

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