Bath Road Reopening Date Still Unclear After Wall Settlement

There is still no firm date for the reopening of Bath Road in Ventnor, despite a legal agreement being reached over the collapsed wall which has kept the road closed for almost three years.

The road, which links Ventnor Esplanade with the upper part of the town, has been shut since October 2023.

It was closed after torrential rain caused a privately owned wall to collapse, sending rubble onto the road and blocking the route.

The dispute over who should pay for the repairs has since involved the Isle of Wight Council and the wall's landowner.

The council has now confirmed that a commercial settlement has been agreed with the property owner towards the cost of putting the wall right.

It says the agreement means there are no further legal costs, after a related court case was discontinued.

A council spokesperson said notice has been served on the neighbouring property regarding the necessary repairs.

They added that the landowner's contribution will cover the cost of a localised repair to the garden wall.

The council says it is now working on a way to complete the repairs and reopen Bath Road "as quickly as possible".

A court hearing scheduled for July 28 was due to consider an appeal concerning ownership of the wall, but the landowner withdrew the case after the commercial agreement was signed.

However, the council has not provided a timescale for the repair work or said when Bath Road could finally reopen.