Drone images capture Isle of Wight landslip hit Leeson Road reopening

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Cars and buses are once again allowed on Leeson Road, Ventnor after the Isle of Wight Council gave the green light to traffic.

Councillors, campaigners and residents were on hand to watch the first vehicles travel along the road this morning (Wednesday).

A ribbon was cut at 10am to mark the reopening.

Councillors and residents officially open Leeson Road. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

Tash Dix, service director in waste, environment, and planning at the Isle of Wight Council told the County Press: "We are incredibly pleased to have reached this point.

"We know it means so much to the local community to be able to bring people back into the town, support the growing economy and make sure residents can keep moving around the Island."

• Read more: Live blog as Leeson Road re-opens

• Isle of Wight road closed by rockfall set to reopen August 9

Asked why the road could not have been opened earlier than today, Tash said: "It was an incredibly wet winter. Eight months of rain.

"We've had an 11 hectare sized landslide, one of the largest we have seen in written history of this area and we needed to make sure it was safe."

David Groocock, who led the Keep Ventnor Moving campaign, said the road could have been opened earlier but he would "take the win".

He said reopening was timely, especially with Ventnor Fringe starting this week.

"I’m so pleased that we’ve helped to get this moment a little bit earlier than we all expected so great news and thank you very much for the council for the listening to us", he said.

Cllr Rodney Downer, councillor for Wroxall, Lowtherville and Bonchurch, has been praised for helping to get the road back open.

From left: Cllr Ed Blake, Michelle Love, Tash Dix, Cllr Phil Jordan, Cllr Rodney Downer and Cllr Julie Jones Evans. (Image: IWCP)

From left: Leslie Craig, Carolyn Hunt-Gouairat, Ramona Nock, Martin Gallut and Lesley Matraves. (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

He was joined at the reopening by Cllr Ed Blake, ward councillor for Ventnor and St Lawrence.

For Leeson Road residents Leslie Craig and Carolyn Hunt-Gouairat, and Ramona Nock, Martin Gallut and Lesley Matraves, from elsewhere in the town, the reopening has been a "long time coming".

They told the County Press: "At last. It’s been hugely disruptive. We will miss the peace and calm but it’s great news for town. Buses are back too which is great!"

Drone images captured the moment buses and vehicles made their first journey.

The road will remain open, under traffic light control, until September 9 when it will close for borehores to be drilled.