11-04-2025
Continued road closure — businesses and community "increasingly fed-up"
Karl Hunter, Ventnor:
For 18 months, Bath Road in Ventnor, one of only two roads that lead down to the seafront, has been closed by Island Roads, due to a breach in a roadside wall that caused debris to spill onto the highway.
With no date set for repairs or removal of the debris, business owners and the community are increasingly fed-up with the lack of action, and are concerned they may be facing another summer season with Bath Road remaining closed.
In light of these frustrations, and with a few other volunteers, I attempted to clear the road.
Read more: Delayed legal dispute over blocked road angers local councillor
However, before we could complete the task, as expected, an Isle of Wight Council employee arrived and, although sympathetic, informed me we did not have a permit to work on the road.
Following this, the council and Island Roads issued a joint statement: 'The closure of Bath Road followed the collapse of a private wall, and it is the responsibility of that private landowner to make the required repairs.'
But is this correct?
It will be for a court to decide who is responsible for the wall.
Read more: 'Risk of a further collapse' blocks clean-up efforts reopening Ventnor road
We have been led to believe the landowner is being taken to court: 'The council is currently engaged in legal action to secure repairs, which is delaying the ability to reopen this route in the town."
In actual fact, the landowner is taking Island Roads to court.
He is appealing to revoke a formal notice served against him by Island Roads on April 8, last year, to make repairs under section 167 of the Highway Act 1980.
The landowner's appeal, lodged on April 22 last year, supports an argument the wall was built by the council, or its predecessors, long after the property above was built, and so given the council was the body responsible for construction of the wall, it is the council's responsibility to repair it.
Read more: "It's been too long" – Frustrated residents take action to clear blocked road
As yet, there is still no court date set.
The handling of Bath Road has highlighted what I believe is a bigger issue.
Island Roads is not considering the impact on the community and local businesses in their decision-making processes.
A solution should have been implemented to keep the road open.
It is Island Roads' view that even if debris was cleared away, there remains a risk of a further collapse.
I have been working with Ventnor businessman David Groocock, a member of Keep Ventnor Moving, and Paul Realey, an independent structural engineer from PTR Consulting Engineers, to mitigate Island Roads' position and construct a temporary solution to get Bath Road reopened for the summer season and beyond.
Read more: No end in sight for Ventnor road closed after wall collapse
Following a joint site inspection, Mr Realey drafted a report that detailed a temporary solution to brace the breach from further collapse, at a cost of £9,500, plus VAT.
Some might say a sizeable sum, but the likely economic benefit to local businesses, especially those along the front, will, by far, outweigh the cost.
The alternative is to wait for a court date and then probable appeal, which could see Bath Road remaining closed for this season and the next.
I would urge the council and Island Roads to take up this relatively inexpensive solution, for the economic benefit to Ventnor, in these financially difficult times.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said: 'The council and Island roads have not been approached by anyone but would be happy to review any independent proposals put forward to repair the wall. These would need to be reviewed by structural engineers to ensure that any repairs made were structurally sound and the road could be reopened safely. The council and Island Roads will continue to work through the legal process to determine to owner of the wall and instruct them to carry out the necessary works.'
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