A 12-week public consultation on Isle of Wight Council’s draft Island Transport Plan (ITP) has been launched, giving Islanders the chance to comment on the Island’s transport priorities from 2025 to 2040.
The plan is part of a national requirement for Local Transport Authorities to have a Local Transport Plan in place.
The plan highlights supporting healthier communities through safer and more travel options and a transport network that reduces environmental impact, as well as the importance of adapting to climate change.
The ITP also includes objectives such as supporting local economic growth, improving air quality and travel efficiency, and making transport more inclusive and affordable.
Among the proposals are improvements to rural bus shelters, simplified ticketing across different modes of transport, and the rollout of real-time information across the network.
The plan also supports enhancements at ferry terminals and the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The council has already secured £13.6million in Levelling Up funding for walking, cycling, and public transport improvements, and £2.1million from the Department for Transport’s Safer Roads Fund for the A3056 between Newport and Lake.
Isle of Wight Council has organised 7 drop-in events across the Island:
- Monday 15th September – Riverside Centre, Newport – 3.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday 16th September – East Cowes Town Hall – 11am to 2pm
- Wednesday 17th September – Freshwater Memorial Hall – 11am to 2pm
- Monday 6th October – Aspire Ryde – 3:30pm to 6:30pm
- Thursday 9th October – Cowes Community Club – 3:30pm to 6:30pm
- Tuesday 4th November – Salisbury Gardens, Ventnor – 11am to 2pm
- Thursday 6th November – Sandown Methodist Church – 11:30am to 2:30pm
In addition, there are 2 online events for those unable to make the drop-ins on Wednesday 8th October (10:00-11:30) and Monday 3rd November (17:00-18:30).
These events will give Islanders the opportunity to ask questions and discuss the Island Transport Plan with Council Officers.
Stewart Chandler, Isle of Wight Council’s Transport Strategy Manager, says:
“The way we travel affects almost every part of Island life; from job opportunities and access to healthcare, to the air we breathe and the safety of our streets. Our Island Transport Plan addresses today’s urgent challenges: congestion, climate change, accessibility, health inequalities, while planning for tomorrow’s opportunities in technology, tourism and sustainable growth.
“Our Vision, as we work towards 2040, is to have an inclusive transport system that enables a low-carbon, safe, prosperous and healthy future for all residents and visitors; and seeks to protect and enhance the Island’s unique local, natural and built environment.”
The closing date for public comment is 24th November. Once responses have been considered, the final version of the plan will be published in early 2026 and will be submitted to the Department for Transport for approval.
Further details of the Island Transport Plan including the online consultation survey can be found at https://www.iow.gov.uk/transport-and-parking/transport/transport-policy/consultations-on-island-transport/.
What climate change? Or do you mean the world’s weather cycle
The climate con is part of the world’s agenda.
Your mum’s agenda.
I’ve already had enough of you.
I have a transport plan.
No.1 Stop vehicles parking on pavements so pedestrians can
walk safely.
Look at Newport near St George’s roundabout there is always a
Numpty parked FULLY on the pavement making it impossible
for wheelchair users, pram users or mobility scooters to pass!
It is not for from the council offices, useless civil enforcement
officers must see this on a daily basis and do fcuk all about it!
They are more concerned booking a vehicle that goes a few minutes
over their time.
If that is the case why do they let some vehicles park along
Union Street in Ryde all day when you only get 1 hour!!
Do they know the owner of such vehicles and turn a blind eye
Very fishy!
No.2 Make sure cyclists use cycle lanes, if I had a £1 everytime
I saw numpty cyclists cycling along Fairlee Road when they
should be using the cycle lane provided, I would be rich.
No.3 Put bus stops in sensible places, too many bus stops
are in dangerous positions, they need laybys to pull into.
Also in Melville Street, Sandown, when buses stop near the
glass studio, due to parked vehicles opposite the bus stop
vehicles cannot pass.
WHAT NUMPTY PLACED A BUS STOP IN SUCH A POSITION!!
THE MIND BOGGLES
ISLAND HIGHWAYS ETC HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT ROAD
SAFETY!!
It make me laugh that we are considering a 15 year transport plan, one year plans are a stretch where this council is concerned, they cannot even get a ferry service to run efficiently. .
Repairing the road between Ryde Golf Club and the minin roundabout would be a start
It’s not a consultation, it’s a restricted Q & A. They decide what questions to ask, then decide what answers we can give.
It’s all about walking and cycling more, yet they acknowledge that an ageing population isn’t likley to do much more of either.
And they back off doing anything practical with the ferries because “they’re privately owned”. Well, who knew?
Oh, and no mention of that essential piece of transport connectivity, the chain ferry.
Very true. I waded through the “consultation” survey and many of the questions would not move on to the next one unless you chose one of the answers they supplied. Apart from one or two questions that you could add comments you are pushed into what they want to hear.
It is pretty much ” put in order of preference – a) hit thumb with hammer – b) hit toe with shovel – c) bang head on wall. If you don’t really want to do any of those you still have to choose or you can’t move on to the next section.
We need a motorway built from freshwater to Brading with branch to ryde and sandown Shanklin. Also a motorway to cowes along the fields near the cycle track should fix the road problems.