Fields in Trust, who protect the interests of Simeon Street Recreation Ground in Ryde, are yet to make a decision on whether the field can be used as a car park during the summer holidays.
As first reported by Island Echo, Southern Water has teamed up with the Isle of Wight Council – the landowners – to create a plan to transform part of Simeon Street Rec into parking for beachgoers over the next 6 weeks. The move is as a result of the continued closure of Appley Car Park for repairs to a collapsed sewer main – repairs which have been taking place since January.
It was planned for the car park to open today (Friday) as the summer holidays get underway, but Fields in Trust have not yet given permission for the scheme to go ahead. That’s despite signage having already been erected and road signs ready to be put out.
It’s hoped that parking for 200 cars will be made available between 08:00-20:00 each day, charged at £5 for up to 5 hours and £10 for up to 12 hours.
A meeting is now being called to discuss the matter, although it is not known when that meeting will take place.
A spokesperson for Fields in Trust has said:
“The landowner has applied for consent for a temporary change of use for part of the protected space. Our Trustee Board will consider this request from the landowner and, given the urgency of the situation, a special meeting of The Fields in Trust Land and Planning Committee will be convened outside our regular meeting schedule.
“We are receiving a high volume of public enquiries from residents concerned about the loss of space – but we have also had communication accepting that a temporary change provides a solution the challenging problem of sufficient parking during the busy summer period. Our Trustees will evaluate the application as soon as possible”.
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Posted on Facebook by Cllr Karen Lucioni on the 23rd at 7.27pm , Its off No parking