The Isle of Wight is to receive an additional £13.6million to improve walking and cycling networks across the Island plus a 21km nature reserve, luggage lockers, e-bike hire and real time bus information. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has made the funds available through Round 3 of its Levelling Up Fund, with the money earmarked to deliver 3 interconnected projects. The Island previously secured £5.8million in the first funding round to develop a Marine Hub in East Cowes. The 1st of the new projects to be funded will result in the development of a ‘green link’ corridor between Ryde and Yarmouth to encourage people to leave their cars at home and travel more by bike, bus or on foot. The 2nd project will see the development of a multi-use 13-mile cycle route between Newport and Freshwater – known as the ‘West Wight Greenway’ – providing an important link to the Gunville Greenway and improving access to the rest of the Island’s cycle network. 
The 3rd project will see an extension of existing cycle routes in and around Newport connecting Green Link projects with existing sustainable transport networks. There will also be investment in a public transport corridor with accessibility ramps, shelters and real time information screens. There will be a small number of trial ‘mobility hubs’ too, where luggage lockers and e-bikes will be available. Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has welcomed the major Goverment investment. He’s said:
“I am delighted government has committed this money to the Island. I’ve been campaigning for the West Wight Greenway. It is a critical link in the development of our Island’s cycle routes. “Whilst we are largely dependent on our cars in the more rural parts of the Island, making bus travel cheaper and more attractive as we’ve done with the £2 bus fare, and investing in our cycling and walking routes, will make alternative methods of transport more attractive for some people some of the time. It is a valuable investment at relatively little cost. “The cycle routes are important for transport, for health, and the tourism industry. “I’m glad we are continuing to get a better deal for Islanders. “We are going to see improvements to our sustainable transport networks which will benefit Islanders and visitors. “I caught up with representatives from Cycle Wight very recently. I’m aware there is work that could be done to improve the surfacing of the route between Sandown and Newport. I’ll be talking to the Isle of Wight Council as to whether some of the money can be used for that purpose as well.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for regeneration, has said:
“We have already done plenty of work on these projects, including the West Wight and Gunville Greenways, with positive involvement and support from local landowners, and user groups such as Cyclewight and the Isle of Wight Ramblers. “I am delighted that we can now put these ambitious plans into practice; not just for the West Wight but extending the route towards Ryde, creating a natural corridor for visitors and locals alike to travel safely and sustainably through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain. “Investment from our regen team has bourn fruit with another quality bid that will reap benefits across the island. “I went to my first Gunville Greenway meeting in 2010, so I’m unbelievably happy at today’s announcement. It’s a long game sometimes, but you have to keep playing!” Island MP Bob Seely added: “I am delighted government has committed this money to the Island. I’ve been campaigning for the West Wight Greenway. It is a critical link in the development of our Island’s cycle routes. “The cycle routes are important for transport, for health, and the tourism industry. We are going to see improvements to our sustainable transport networks which will benefit Islanders and visitors.”
Does this mean that all the potholes will be fixed as well perhaps Mr Seely can arrange this !!!
They’ll be fixed as soon as we stop making them
So imagine leaving a dry, warm car to cycle, walk, wobble about in the gales on a battery scooter or ebike in the last few months of weather we have been experiencing, whilst others arrive in air con cars, warm dry, and leave without putting on damp all weather clothes.
All to ‘save the planet’ whilst the UK Gov allows in and ENDLESS stream of illegals who will use more energy, more resources, and add more landfill, pollution, sewerage, congestion, loss of more green fields, harming the climate FAR more than your suffering would achieve in a million years.
SEE it how it is, not how you are told by those who, don’t do as they say, as they know that other suckers will free up road space for them to travel on less congested roads.
One of the most honest comments on here this year.
This is just a big ploy to get cars off the riads when the council drive around in e cars that we paid for. But the thick sculls don’t get what they are doing to the island and the uk. Wont be any shops soon as people won’t want to go any were on a bus
Yet somehow Netherlands and Japan are full of little shops, cafes, bakeries and so on, while car-friendly US is a concrete meadow of ugly super chains.
But you’re right: I don’t want to go to a shop via a bus. I also don’t want to drive there either. I’d much rather have it within a walking or cycling distance.
I mean… I often even go not only cycling but even running. On my own feet! And I take plenty of long walks, even in winter. Great for your health.
Plenty of people like to be active and if you can kill two birds with one stone: travel where you need to be and exercise at the same time – then why not?
Saves you time. If I were to drive, I’d then still have to go exercise outside afterwards anyway.
Hippie! We don’t want to exercise we want to drive
Yes very true but to be forced to do wgat you do is dictatorship. We have the right to do as we please not as we are told or orderd to do by a few uneducated people don’t you think?
i also ride my bike abd take long walks with my dog. But i should have the choice. Also how do you expect people ti get to work with tools and all the gear they beed uf they can’t afford a 40k e can?.
God, what a racist saddo.
Good news.!
Can someone explain the difference between the 1st of the new projects ~ the development of a ‘green link’ corridor between Ryde and Yarmouth, and the 2nd project ~ the development of a multi-use 13-mile cycle route between Newport and Freshwater.
Surely the first project will also include the second project {a green route from Newport to Yarmouth}.?
Finish the Cowes to east Cowes cycle track!!!
Ha never happen..
I am sure that all of this money will be tipped into the bottomless pit called Island Roads and no good will come of it.
Ye bugger all get done..
Hoping and fingers crossed it’s not wasted. !
Nice to see we can spend13.6 m on cycle routes but can’t afford to properly fund the education of children.
hmm, all allocated cash could be used on other things, it depends on your perspective and what you FEEL is important… it’s a philosophical question.
Wait til you hear how much we spend on car routes compared to education 😉
Cars are way more expensive.
If we start cycling as much as Dutch, you can have +3% GDP to put in education thanks to health benefits cycling provides.
£11m will be nothing in comparison.
Hills on iow , whilst holland pretty flat. Roads very narrow here. So need cycle ways, for safety. It’s quite scary on bike when roads busy.
Exactly…revenue is needed in the education system not cycle paths etc..what’s wrong with the bridle path
Despite the protestations of shortsighted naysayers, this project is actually great news and we are lucky to get this funding. Looking forward to seeing these routes up and running in the future, an asset for locals and tourists alike.
It has no benefit to west with residents who would rather see money spent on cutting down second homes and building more houses for rent.
By the time they cream off for there own use won’t be much left..
Wow all this money for the lycra clad brigade,,,,,, But our school budgets are being hacked to pieces!!!!…
So sad for all the future generations…
Hope the cyclists clear off the roads if this goes ahead……
Totally think they own the roads!!!!!
Ironic username
Very true so sensible !!!!
Dutch estimate cycling saves them 3% of GDP in costs thanks to health benefits it provides.
If we start cycling as much as Dutch, you literally can put MORE THAN OUR ENTIRE MILITARY BUDGET into education.
Seeing how you were interested sun saving money, I assume you’ll support cycling from now on knowing this.
As long as they use cycling. TRACKS, , defo pain on road’s ……
Can be v selfish .
Should be made to.pay road tax and insurance…..
And the best thing is we don’t even have to cycle 100% everywhere.
Dutch still have plenty of cars. It’s possible to get all that money if only 1/3rd of us cycle as our main (not even only, sic!) form of transport.
Plus, you know which country has the happiest drivers as well? ;)))
Here in Ryde we have the green cycle path to nowhere which cost hundreds of thousands which the lycra brigade ignore preferring to use the road and hold up the traffic.
Green path to nowhere, exactly. So where else to go? Road. Can’t really blame people on bikes for this poor infrastructure.
Put the £13.6 million into schools, not cycle paths and footpaths. This council are bloody bonkers, like a chimps tea party.
Levelling up??? Someone has to be joking, there is very little that is going to help the South of the Island, from Freshwater to Ventnor we will still have cycle or walk as there is no direct bus route, if I need to go from Niton to Brighstone I have to go to Newport and then change buses, two hours or more return!!
Get ready for road works, destruction of verges, vegetation and endless bottlenecks
Majority of cyclists are a pain in the a*se!
A total wast of money.
Charge cyclists an annual fee to be on the Road, also cyclists
should have to have insurance.
Have you not seen the way the idiots cycle.
Also they break speed limits in many Island villages.
All cyclists should display front and rear number plates.
Never read so much pent up tension and nonsense!
1.ridiculous suggestion. My kids on their paper round paying a tax, give your head a wobble.
2. Insurance for what? A 10kg piece of aluminum?
3. Speed limits are for motors, cyclists exempt by definition.
4. Number plates for what? ANPR? Parking apps?
. Put the cheetos away and the phone down Jacob.
Get on your bike you will love it.
What a wally.
Why all this argy-bargy ‘either/or’ stuff and knee- jerk siding with motorists or walkers and cyclists? The money isn’t going to be spent on greenways instead of potholes. It’s a lovely bonus and not some conspiracy to force honest toilers off the road to make room for plutocrats. It’s just really good news for people like us oldie Westwighters who will still drive to Newport for our week’s shopping but enjoy a pedal there safely off road and out of the way of motorists now and then. What is it with you whingers? If you want to be cynical, at least try and think logically.
What Ryde to Newport stretch ? Map is to large scale to be clear. Will there still be cyclists risking their lives and holding up the traffic down the Fairlee Road ?