Latest news with #BeccaCameron
The Independent
09-07-2025
- The Independent
‘Risk to life' warning over scenic Isle of Wight road that could fall into sea
Isle of Wight residents are calling for one of its most scenic roads to be urgently fitted with safety measures after years of erosion have left the route dangerously close to a cliff edge. Military Road is an 11-mile stretch of tarmac that offers sweeping views of the island, running alongside its coastal cliffs. But in recent years the erosion of the area has left the road posing a 'serious risk to life', with sections of the route on the southern coast of the island now less than five metres from the cliff's edge. Becca Cameron, a local councillor who called a meeting to raise awareness about the road's dangers, said urgent safety measures were needed to prevent a tragedy. 'I feel there is a serious risk to life,' she told The Guardian. 'Drone footage shows how serious the risk is and how close the cliff is to the road. When a bus passes over the cliff, you can feel the vibrations. We have no warning system if the road collapses.' In a report published last year, the council admitted there was an issue, one that was being caused by ' natural coastal erosion, and water coming off the downs and forming chines [a steep sided gorge] by wearing down the soft clay and orange Wealden rock'. Councillor Phil Jordan, Isle of Wight Council leader, said: "As local residents will be aware, we are experiencing the real effects of geological erosion on the Military Road (the A3055). 'There are three specific sites - the cliff top along Compton Down (Afton Down), and two sites between Brook and Compton Farm. 'The road along Afton Down is currently considered to be relatively stable. Work was carried out in the late 1990s which included ground anchors and 27 metre piling into the chalk underneath the road to protect it from the eroding cliff face. 'The more immediate concern is the erosion taking place between Brook and Compton Farm, known as Sites 14 and 15. This is being caused by natural coastal erosion, and water coming off the downs and forming chines by wearing down the soft clay and orange Wealden rock. This erosion process also provides the sand for our beaches at Shanklin and Sandown.' The report suggests that a possible solution to the problem could involve rerouting this stretch inland, which would guarantee its safety for another 20 years or more. But they warned that such a relocation effort would likely cost in excess of £20 million. Some residents have called for cheaper alternatives, including the installation of crash barriers or the introduction of lower speed limits. A spokesperson for the council told The Guardian that a barrier would be installed in one section and emergency arrangements were in place in the 'unlikely' event of an accident. Visit England, meanwhile, is encouraging people to visit the road while they still can. 'Running parallel with the west coast of the isle, the A3055 (aka Military Road) is a road trip that should be taken sooner rather than later, as erosion along the coast could see parts of the road disappear,' it said. 'The 11-mile route may be short, but it offers a wealth of sweeping ocean views and memorable country landscapes.'
The Guardian
08-07-2025
- The Guardian
‘Serious risk to life': scenic Isle of Wight road could fall into sea, warns council
It is considered one of the most scenic routes in the UK, an 11-mile stretch of road that skirts the coastal cliffs and enjoys sweeping views of the Channel. The problem is that Military Road on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight is getting just a little too close to those plunging cliffs for comfort. Fears are being raised that erosion has left the road just a few metres from the cliffs – in some parts less than 5 metres – and lives could be in danger. Becca Cameron, a councillor who called a public meeting on the situation, said urgent safety measures were needed to prevent a tragedy. 'I feel there is a serious risk to life,' she said. 'Drone footage shows how serious the risk is and how close the cliff is to the road. When a bus passes over the cliff, you can feel the vibrations. We have no warning system if the road collapses.' One person who travels on the local bus that follows the route described parts of it as a 'rollercoaster'. Others called for the road to be diverted inland or for weight restrictions to be imposed. Some local people want crash barriers and lower speed limits. Military Road is the responsibility of the Isle of Wight council as the highways authority. It said the route was experiencing the 'real effects of geological erosion.' In the late 1990s it carried out work on a section running along Afton Down, which included bolstering the route's chalky foundations. But the council is worried over a stretch of about two miles between the village of Brook and a caravan and camping site at Compton Farm. In a report published last year, the council said the issues were being caused by 'natural coastal erosion, and water coming off the downs and forming chines [a steep sided gorge] by wearing down the soft clay and orange Wealden rock.' It added: 'A potential alternative option is to reroute this stretch of the road inland which would guarantee the route for a further 20 years or more.' But it warned this would cost more than £20m. The Military Road was constructed in about 1860 to supply coastal garrisons and consisted at that time of only a narrow unmade track. Almost a century ago, it was adopted by the Isle of Wight county council (a former incarnation of the local authority). The road was widened and certain sections were realigned because even then, they were threatened by cliff erosion. In more recent years the climate emergency and extreme weather events have exacerbated the problem. The Isle of Wight council is keen to keep the route open because it connects communities and is also a major tourist attraction. Visit England has advised people to visit before it is too late. It said: 'Running parallel with the west coast of the isle, the A3055 (aka Military Road) is a road trip that should be taken sooner rather than later, as erosion along the coast could see parts of the road disappear. 'The 11-mile route may be short, but it offers a wealth of sweeping ocean views and memorable country landscapes.'
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform UK wins first seats on Isle of Wight
Reform UK has won two council by-election races on the Isle of Gladwin and David Maclean won Central Rural and Lake North ward's respectively, which are the party's first seats on the Isle of Wight candidate Becca Cameron won the Freshwater South Jonathan Bacon, who led contentious plans to close six Isle of Wight primary schools, lost his seat on Brading Town Council to Nick Binfield, a prominent campaigner against the closure of Brading Primary School. Mr Bacon garnered the fewest votes in the town council election, with 81, while Mr Binfield was elected for the first time with 168 Binfield said: "I am delighted to have been elected onto Brading Town Council. "I look forward to working with the community and other councillors to work positively for our community, and to continue to support our school and other aspects of our community."Mr Bacon, whose county seat was not up for election, has been approached for comment. After winning her seat, Ms Gladwin said: "I think this is a positive thing. The old parties have failed and people are looking for something new. "We will look out for rural residents and farmers which the other parties haven't done."Ms Gladwin received 410 votes, with Conservative candidate Simon Richards on 220 and the Green Party's Julia Laursen on replaces Suzie Ellis who previously represented the ward as a Conservative added that her party would be "bringing something new to County Hall".David Maclean received 291 votes in Lake North, with the Conservatives' Adrian Whittaker coming second, with 232 two new Reform UK candidates have not said if they will back the Alliance Independents, made up of different parties who currently lead the council. Becca Cameron replaces fellow independent councillor John Medland as Freshwater South's County Hall representative after receiving 472 UK's candidate Bill Nigh came second with said: "The people of Freshwater have spoken – they have stood up to fight to protect our beautiful area before it is destroyed forever."People visit the West Wight for its beauty, its open spaces, for its inspiration, its nature, peace and tranquillity, and not to see mass housing developments the government is forcing upon us."Building on our green fields ignores our unique protected landscape and will damage our vital tourist industry forever."The people of Freshwater say no. I will fight tooth and nail for my amazing community and protect all that we love and cherish." When will we know all the results?How the BBC is reporting local election resultsAnger and indifference collide in unpredictable local elections You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
