Isle of Wight landslide temporary roadworks halted

Undercliff Drive was destroyed in severe weather in February 2014

Work to build a temporary road for Isle of Wight residents affected by a landslide last year has been halted over concerns for wildlife.

Natural England said it was forced to stop roadworks at Undercliff Drive, Ventnor, to prevent damage to the area which lies within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The council said Island Roads was now consulting Natural England.

It said any works within the SSSI would have to comply with its requirements.

Places given SSSI status are protected by law to conserve wildlife or geology.

So far, the authority said three trees had been removed from an area of council land, as part of preparatory works.

Francis Davies, from Natural England, said it had not previously been consulted over proposals to restore access to properties in Undercliff Drive, which was destroyed in severe weather in February 2014.

However, he said it was now working closely with Island Roads, which is responsible for the island's highways, to "quickly find an acceptable solution".

Gemma Read, an Undercliff Drive resident, described it as "another hold up".

As a result of the road closure, she said businesses and residents had also been affected in St Lawrence, Knighton and Whitwell.

A council spokesman said the work was only likely to be delayed "by a few days".

The authority had said the temporary road would be constructed by the end of the summer.