Up to 30-minutes’ free parking is to be offered in an area of Newport High Street under plans announced by the Isle of Wight Council this evening (Wednesday) – just hours before a second national lockdown comes into force.
Temporary barriers installed at the lower end of the high street are to be removed to free up around 35 parking bays which will be free to use for the first 30 minutes for the duration of the current lockdown period.
Drivers will still need to collect a ticket from the parking meter in order to confirm the half-hour stay.
The pavement-widening barriers were introduced in June to aid social distancing as shoppers returned to the high street following the first coronavirus lockdown. However, with people once again encouraged to stay at home under new national restrictions to come into force tomorrow, the council plans to remove them by the end of next week and introduce the free parking offer.
Welcoming the move, Councillor Ian Ward, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, has said the council is committed to doing as much as it could to #keeptheislandsafe through the challenging weeks ahead. He has said:
“The plans announced today will not only support our business community in Newport, but also our residents by enabling quick and easy access to the high street for essential shopping trips for food and medication, as well as take-away services.
“These measures will ensure people can access services that are vital to us all in the current circumstances.”
Meanwhile, a loading bay in St James’ Square, Newport, is to be removed to create additional safe space for pedestrians as requested by Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council.
Free parking just when all the shops are closing, sounds about right for this council
About time. Now make this permanent.
30 minutes……how NOT very generous of the council. Can’t do much shopping in 30 minutes!!!!! They’ve gotta do better than that.
Council doesn’t give a penny. Speaking with traffic warden yesterday in Cowes, I’ve been told they have to go out during lockdown. Frontline always first getting the sxit, big bosses with their feet at warm, enjoying a payrise for having done super good during first lockdown
Why only newport? What’s with this council
Bloody joke
These are the barriers they put up outside of empty shops, which they constantly have to pay Island Roads to put back up after the local idiots knock them over. The free parking should be permanent in lower high street, not just for lockdown.
Isn’t the idea to discourage people going out so we can reduce the spread of the virus? We need to get the numbers down to buy us time to get a vaccine as well as keeping the NHS available for the people who need it, not filling it up with covidiots.
What’s the point if everything or nearly everything is closed. DOH!
Parking should be free permanently, over half the shop’s are now empty with more due to close their doors, the town will be a ghost town at this rate.