Contentious plans to increase and extend parking charges across the Isle of Wight have been scrapped in a County Hall budget passed last night (Wednesday).
A combined Alliance, Liberal Democrat and Conservative amendment to original proposals was agreed with 30 councillors voting in favour and 8 against after full council was adjourned for discussions lasting at least an hour.
A 4.99 per cent council tax increase will go ahead as planned and altered wording now reads: there will be no compulsory redundancies – despite an amended staff reduction programme amounting to £541,000.
Officers’ proposed Floating Bridge charge for under 19s has been withdrawn and Newport Roman Villa will continue to be open to the public.
There will also be no 50p to £1 increase in foot passenger prices on the chain ferry.
New charges for the council’s DIY rubble disposal scheme are included, however, representing £100,000.
The erased parking plans come after member of the public Adam Provis’s petition against them gathered more than 4,000 signatures. The plans had proposed introducing fees on Union Street in Ryde, Crocker Street in Newport, Sandown High Street, Shanklin’s Regents Street, pay and display parking at Fort Victoria Country Park and a 25p per hour increase to on and off street charges.
Tonight’s forum was adjourned for at least an hour while County Hall group leaders and Island MPs conferred on the budget before voting.
Leaders of the Very Broad Church and Empowering Islanders groups, Geoff Brodie and Chris Jarman respectively, left the discussions before they finished.
Officers previously described budget 2026/27 as the ‘most challenging ever’ considered by the local authority in the last 10 years.
A report published prior to tonight’s meeting highlighted a Structural Deficit of almost £20m facing County Hall which it said could rise to £65m by 2029/30 if left unattended.
The headline story is about Councillors voting on some ridiculously desperate proposal to destroy the remaining vibrant Island town areas with yet more parking charges – but, hidden in the story – still hit us with yet another a 4.99% Council Tax increase year on year !
Less than a month ago on the 21st January, the very same Councillors voted for themselves to give themselves a pay rise :- “Full council decided to approve the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2026/2027 on Wednesday evening (January 21) which includes a £10,800 per year basic allowance from April 1. This is a £676 increase from the current £10,124 allowance.”
The Council elections are on the 7th May and we can give our Councillors our opinion on how they deserve their extra money that they have unilaterally simply awarded themselves while the Council Taxpayer continues to pay more and more.
I agree. How can Councillors authorise themselves an 6.68% increase when the national average pay increase for 2026/2027 is between 3 to 3.6%? It reminds me of Bessie’s mates marking each other’s exam papers.
Given the deficit the Council has already announced, I would have expected any pay increases to match only the national inflation increase.
Frozen pay would have been more acceptable,
they are bleeding the island dry.
Doesn’t surprise me at all, from what I see on a daily basis
Numpties park on Pavements,, Double Yellow Lines and Zig Zags
FREE OF CHARGE
IW Council would make more money transferring more Council
staff into roles of Civil Enforcement Officers
They don’t need cars, they could cycle or walk the streets
they would make a mint.
Pan estate outside the school is a DOUBLE YELLOW LINE
Money maker opportunity, parking on Double Yellow Lines
is rife
Think of all the money you can make from parking tickets
Better than paying staff to do nothing
Good bloody stupid to even try to charge in places that has never been charging..Remember the floating turd was free for 20 odd years for foot/ cycles passengers..then they charged for it ! then i drove round after that..its part of the road network they get the money from our extremely high bollocks for nothing council tax..
Many parts of the country charge congestion charges
ULEZ charges and clean air zone charges.
That’s life.
All bullshit for money
4.99% increase in council tax . Good old Labour bringing the cost of living down still my prescription charge is frozen and my parents.Wrigley Quigly Slimmer Starmer comment please.
The problem is they all work for the same WEF Boss.
The island towns look sad and neglected due to criminal council neglect. All they seem to spend our money on is their own generous wages and pensions, and parking wardens to deter customers from supporting local businesses. It’s obscene.
Oh dear Wrigley Quigley the sixth safest labour seat gone might need to start looking for a new job. The clock is ticking tik tok Liebor out before it is too late.