Just a few days since the last update on the saga of the Bath Road closure in Ventnor, and there is good news to report.
Bath Road has remained closed since 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. 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 Keep Ventnor Moving action group, who have been working behind the scenes to find solutions to the obstacles preventing the road being cleared and wall repaired has been able to report good news this weekend.
IWC will fund repairs
A spokesperson for the group explain that the leader of the council, Phil Jordan, has agreed the council will fund the repairs. They said,
“Councillor Jordan has agreed that in the interim, the council will fund these repairs from the highways capital budget and then reclaim the costs from the appropriate owner through the court process if that is required.”
Plans to be submitted for approval
The spokesperson added that a structural engineer from PTR Consultants has drawn up plans for a temporary solution to brace the breach from further collapse.
“These plans can be submitted to Island Roads for technical review to determine if the proposed repairs are sufficient to reopen the road or if extra works are required.”
So the reopening of the carriageway could finally in sight. Well done to all who have worked behind the scenes to help make this happen.
Rockfall on Belgrave Road
Let’s hope the rockfall on Belgrave Road can be dealt with a little faster than the Bath Road saga.
Unfortunately, it’s not a straight-forward as clearing the rockfall and reopening the road, as the overhang rock is showing signs of further cracking and structural failure.
