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Children and Young Peoples Services

Services for Adults on the Isle of Wight

Highways Maintenance


Service Description: Road repairs are undertaken to extend the residual life of the network and improve riding quality. There are 492 miles of roads, together with pavements (footways) and paved pedestrian areas on the Island that we try to ensure are properly maintained and safe to use. These include defect inspections by resident inspectors at set intervals, as well as mechanised surveys that help to establish structural and surface condition of the roads. Every year a programme is drawn up of major repairs based on the views of County, Town and Parish Councillors, along with community views and reports from Highway Inspectors. Priority is give to those roads that are in urgent need of repair, and have the most use. The Isle of Wight Council is responsible for protecting the public from dangers caused by the misuse and abuse of the highway; these can be obstructions on the highway such as overhanging trees, overgrown hedges and unauthorised skips and scaffolding.

Also known as:- Carriageway and Footway Maintenance, Carriageway Reconstruction, Cats Eyes, Charity Permits, Damaged Road Signs, Defects, Faulty Streetlights, Highways Defect, Obstructions, Ragwort (On Highways Verges), Re-Kerbing, Re-surfacing, Repainting Lines, Roadside Ditches, Sandbags, Wasps-Public Land (Defect)

Your FAQ

Question: What is a highway obstruction and how can I report one?

Answer: A highway obstruction is something that does not have a statutory or legal right to be there.

Anyone can commit an offence if they obstruct any movement along a highway, plant hedges or erect buildings or fences along the highway.

To place posts, advertising boards or goods on the highway is unlawful, and the Isle of Wight Council’s has a duty to secure the removal of illegal obstructions and encroachments. There is a possibility that an offender obstructing the highway may face legal action if people are hurt or their property damaged.

To report a obstruction(s) please complete our Highways Defect form by clicking on the link below. - Related Link


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