Great news for Ventnor seafront businesses and for anyone wanting to spend time in Ventnor over the coming weekends.

As visitors and Ventnorians will know, road improvement works have been taking place on the seafront for the last few weeks.

This has meant that the road has been closed to traffic (although still open to pedestrians and both car parks accessible from either end of the esplanade.

Some of the businesses on the seafront have complained about the road closure, saying it has affected their business. We have just had some of the worst weekends of the year weather wise but one seafront business, Chiaro the Italian restaurant, tell us that their trade has actually gone up during the period.

Break in works
Anyway, the busy men at the highways department tell us that there will be a natural break in the works tomorrow and that the esplanade will be open to traffic from 5pm tomorrow (Friday) until Monday morning.

They go on to say that the same will be happening from Friday 18 December so the road can be reopened to traffic during the Christmas period. Hurrah!

Works to the pathway will continue through this time, and works to the road will start back up again on Monday 4 January.

Peter Hayward, Isle of Wight Council Head of Highways and Transport said: “Although not completed, the improvement works at Ventnor Esplanade are looking really good.

“There is never a good time to carry out such major works as these but I’m pleased that we have been able to schedule these outside the main tourist season. As the project progresses we will try to schedule works so the road can open at weekends, but can’t guarantee this and obviously we are keen to complete the works as quickly as possible.

“I’d recommend that those who are interested take the opportunity to visit the seafront where they will be able to appreciate the difference which we are making there. The businesses are open and whilst you can’t rely on the weather, the forecast it is certainly better than it has been in recent weeks!”

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