After being closed for more than 1,000 days (as the site ‘Is Bath Road Open Yet?’ – a website part campaign, part deadpan-jest highlights) work may start soon to reopen Bath Road in Ventnor after an agreement has been reached between Isle of Wight Council and the property owner.
Bath Road has remained closed since 30th October 2023 following the collapse of a garden wall onto the carriageway. The road, which provides a vital link between the western esplanade and Belgrave Road, became inaccessible to traffic after the incident.
A deal almost three years in the making
Since then, progress has stalled due to legal disputes, as one of the landowners contested an enforcement notice issued by the Isle of Wight council.
The council told BBC’s Local Democracy Reporter, Rufus Pickles, that it has reached an agreement with the proprietor, meaning it no longer needs to wait for court proceedings to settle the question of ownership before work can begin.
Procurement now underway
The Isle of Wight Council issued a statement,
“This important development allows the council to progress plans to repair the wall and reopen the road.
“The procurement process to appoint contractors is now underway, with works set to begin as soon as possible to restore safe access for the community.”
It’s been ages!
One thing the “Is Bath Road Open Yet?” site does is put the 1,000 days into context – It’s two years and nine months, that’s getting on for three years that the road has been closed, impacting Ventnor’s seafront for residents, local businesses and visitors.
Lower down the website are other paragraphs of context:
“Rishi Sunak was the Prime Minister when Bath Road closed. He’s long gone — the country has had a general election and an entirely different government since then.“
“A baby conceived around the time the road closed would have been born, learned to walk, and be talking by now. The road has still not reopened.”
and
“The road closed on the day before Halloween 2023. Trick or treat? Definitely trick — and the joke has been on Ventnor residents ever since.”
Sixteen months since funding was agreed
In April 2025, OnTheWight reported that the council had agreed, in the interim, to fund the repairs from the highways capital budget and then reclaim the costs from the appropriate owner through the court process.
Only sixteen months later has the council come to an agreement with the land owner.
Article edit
3.30pm 6th Aug 2026 – RF credited for receiving the statement. More context to ‘Is Bath Road Open Yet’ website added
