Traffic backlog problems at one of the Isle of Wight’s ports has led a parish council to complain to the ferry company.
Wightlink’s Fishbourne terminal, on Fishbourne Lane, has been the subject of residents’ fury over the last few months as traffic had built up ‘seemingly every weekend’. However, Wightlink says the Island proved a popular getaway after lockdown and residents were alerted when there are problems but some isolated staff shortages which may have impacted the backlog.
Responding to the ‘detrimental’ effect this has had to the residents, Fishbourne Parish Council has complained to the Isle of Wight Council’s planning enforcement team, as it says Wightlink has breached its traffic management plan.
In its October meeting, the parish council said:
“The backlog along Fishbourne Lane, particularly at weekends, has been detrimental to residents and none of the measures outlined in the traffic management plan has been implemented.”
Parish clerk, Maxine Warr, expressed residents’ concerns, saying:
“Entry and exit of properties can be almost impossible when there is a tailback and tempers can get quite frayed when residents appear to be ‘jumping the queue’ to gain access to their homes.
“The parish council has approached Wightlink on numerous occasions for a solution but without success.
Article continues below this advertisement “We have made a complaint regarding a breach of the traffic management plan as we feel additional booths should be open for check-in when there is heavy traffic backlog as detailed in the plan.”
Some residents along Fishbourne Lane have also put up fences to prevent people from the waiting cars looking into their property.
The Isle of Wight Council said it had been made aware of the alleged breach of the traffic plans and has written to remind Wightlink of the requirements. A Council spokesperson said:
“It is recognised queuing at Fishbourne is a seasonal issue when ferry travel is higher.
“It is considered by the local planning authority that Wightlink has tried to overcome this in recent years through changing the marshalling yard, to give greater capacity, but also to try and get vehicles off of the highway and to speed up the check-in.”
Changes to the terminal in recent years also include increasing the number of lanes so cars and HGVs can be separated and a new upper-level linkspan to allow two streams of traffic to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously
The Isle of Wight Council is now asking the parish council and residents to let them know when the plan is not being complied with, sending them the time, date and any photographic evidence.
A spokesperson for Wightlink has apologised to residents of Fishbourne disturbed by the queueing traffic but said its Island port operations manager, Martin Gulliver, had several meetings with them over the summer. Mr Gulliver had also established a system of giving neighbours traffic alerts via text or What’s App messages, in the event of problems.
If any resident would like to receive updates, they should email [email protected].
In accordance with the traffic plan, the spokesperson said 2 check-in lanes were opened at peak times. However, during the pandemic, there had been a number of isolated incidents when Wightlink had not had staff available on site to do so immediately.
It’s ok for wightlink and Red funnel alike to block accesses ,if you parked your car or van infront of their gate all hell would break out
What is needed is a marshaling area between Fiasbourne and East Cowes so overflow trafic can be called when the terminals are ready to take them. this was put forward some years ago but like so many things on this Island never carried out
not enough staff?
I’m sure management are capable of jumping in a booth and helping out.
I’m absolutely certain they dont and wont.
I nearly bought a house on fishbourne lane last year .glad I didn’t now .
That’s the answer don’t buy a house there.any port on a holiday island will have its problems it’s not just here so no good moaning about it.most people brought a house there because it was close to the ferry port.
Will all become far, far worse as thousands more homes, and tens of thousands more people fill this Isle over the next FEW years. Ruined by greed, by those who can afford to live well away from the misery they create for others.
Vote them OUT next time.
Yes and just like fishbourne lane they will soon be moaning to.
Everything gets busier, noisier, and more inconsiderate as time goes by. And nobody really cares unless it affects them directly.
Wightlink,Red Funnel and F#ing Wightfibre seem to be like Cartels,able to do like what they want, treat Islanders with complete contempt seem to be untouchable in the eyes of the Council and Government!!
What has WightFibre got to do with ferry traffic congestion?????
It’s about causing nuisance to island residents.
Do you need me to write it in crayon for you?
Yeah like the I.o.w council will do anything about it.. they never have and never will.
Fine them if they can’t manage the traffic they have happily booked on thier ferry.As we all know these are private companies making vast profits.The roads are public highways not an overflow Marshalling yard for the use of a private firm
Hit them hard where it hurts