Hampshire & Isle of Wight weekly round-up: 16 March - 22 March 2024

Undercliff Drive has been closed to through traffic since February 2014

A story about a council leader ruling out the rebuilding of a road that collapsed 10 years ago was among our most read this week in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Deliveroo rider bites off customer's thumb

Jenniffer Rocha was delivering a pizza when she severed Stephen Jenkinson's thumb

A food delivery driver who bit off a customer's thumb has pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Jenniffer Rocha, 35, attacked the customer in December 2022 near his home in Aldershot in Hampshire.

She was not employed by Deliveroo, but had been working as a "substitute" rider using someone else's account.

The judge at Winchester Crown Court described it as a "serious offence", which could result in a prison sentence.

Fire engine careers off road and crashes into field

The fire engine overturned after ploughing through a hedge

A fire engine left a road, ploughing through a hedge and overturning in a field.

The vehicle crashed on the A272 near Cheesefoot Head, Winchester, shortly before 13:00 GMT on Monday.

It was not on an emergency call and no other vehicle was involved, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service said.

The service said no-one was injured and the cause of the crash would be investigated.

Coastal sea defence designs approved

Parts of the sea wall have a textured design to encourage growth of marine life

A new stage of Portsmouth's coastal defence scheme has been given the go ahead, despite fears it would act as a skatepark "all along the seafront".

Defences are being built along a 2.8-mile (4.5km) section of coast, aimed at protecting 4,000 homes at direct risk from rising sea levels.

The city's planning committee raised concerns about landscaping, public art and the design of the seating.

Members were told metal studs and armrests would prevent their misuse.

Council leader rules out rebuilding collapsed road

Two sections of the A3055 Undercliff Drive suffered landslips in February 2014

Reinstating a collapsed road would be "a folly", a council leader has said.

Part of Undercliff Drive near Ventnor on the Isle of Wight has been closed for 10 years after a landslip left the ground unstable.

In 2021, the Department for Transport awarded Isle of Wight Council £2.1m to rebuild the road but the council said it was not enough.

A new landslip on nearby roads has led leader Phil Jordan to say reinstating the route was not worth the risk.

Motorway closures as two-year £83m project starts

A two-year £83m project to upgrade a stretch of motorway is under way, involving a reduced speed limit and overnight closures.

National Highways is resurfacing the M27 between junctions five (Eastleigh) and seven (Hedge End) in Hampshire.

It said the work would reduce noise, improve drainage and strengthen the central reservation.

The motorway's four lanes will be reduced to three with a 50mph (80km/h) limit in place.

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