UPDATED WITH OBJECTION LINK: A shocking document highlighting the final proposals by the Isle of Wight Council to implement a vast amount of changes to parking across the Island has revealed that locations such as Blackgang View Point, Puckpool Park and Appley Park will become pay and display car parks, the parking season will be extended by a month and a number of adjustments to existing car parks and on street parking will come into force.
Free parking is to be cut right across the Island bringing misery to residents and visitors alike with even rural spots such as Blackgang not escaping the proposed changes, which are set to be brought in to raise more funds for the Council’s pocket despite having made at least a £2.2million surplus in the past.
The 7-page document released today (Friday) and obtained by Island Echo reveals the true extent of damage to the Island community, which will undoubtedly have a knock on effect to businesses. Shockingly, parking charges will come into force from 1st March instead of the existing period of 1st April until 31st October – an increase of 1 month.
Should the plans go through, the majority of car parks and on-street parking areas will be chargeable between 08:00 and 20:00, instead of the current 08:00 to 18:00 set up, with St Marys Road, Cowes and New Street, Newport seeing 1/2hr parking charged at 10p more than other areas on the Island and will have a maximum parking time of 2 hours.
Any on street parking areas that are currently chargeable between 10:00 and 18:00 will also see a number of changes, some being seasonal. Esplanade, Cowes; Culver Parade, Sandown; Esplanade, Sandown; Esplanade, Shanklin and Esplanade, Ventnor will all be chargeable between the hours of 10:00 – 20:00 from 1st March until the 31st October.
The Parade, Cowes; Canoe Lake Road, Ryde; Esplanade, Ryde and High Street, Yarmouth will be chargeable between the hours of 10:00 – 20:00 all year round while North Walk in Ryde will also be chargable between 10:00 and 20:00 but with 1 hour parking costing £1.10.
A special tariff will apply to Pier Square in Yarmouth and will be chargeable for 12 hours a day from 08:00 with a maximum stay of 2 hours. Yarmouth Harbour parking charges will increase.
Immediate concerns have also been raised about the new All Island Car Park Permit which allows up to 6 hours parking in long stay car parks, limiting its use for those who work a typical 8-hour day and forcing those workers to fork out another £125 – a total of £420 – to park up to 24 hours for 12 months of the year.
The Isle of Wight Council is proposing to remove the 1/2hr free parking at Moa Place, Freshwater and instead imposing a minimum charge of £1.00 for up to an hour. The current two hour free parking at Medina Leisure Centre, Newport and The Heights, Sandown will also be revoked and instead a 3 hour free parking period will be introduced but only for One Card holders – those using the Doctors surgery could face paying £2.00 per visit.
A scheme to encourage visitors to the Island’s towns by offering free parking on set afternoons is also to be scrapped at Cowes, Sandown, Newport, Shanklin and Ventnor.
Appley Park and Puckpool Park in Ryde; Blackgang View Point, Chale; Seaclose and Newport Harbour North in Newport and Esplanade Car Park in Totland will have free parking scrapped and normal charges implemented between 08:00 and 20:00. The same is true for High Street, Carisbrooke; Brannon Way, Wootton; Pier Road, Seaview and Broadway Car Park in Totland, however the first hour will be free of charge in these car parks.
A 2,800 strong petition has already been handed to the Isle of Wight Council in objection of the proposed changes to Puckpool and Appley and is set to be discussed at full council on 21st May. The petition can still be signed here.
UPDATE TUESDAY: Following the publication of this article last week, bringing the shocking proposals into the public eye, a number of petitions have been started to show a large community protest against the proposed changes to parking charges.
A petition to support staff and parents at Medina College, Newport has been launched as fears grow that teachers will have to pay around £1000 to go to work and parents will be faced with no choice but to potentially pay to park when picking up their children. You can join the petition here.
Meanwhile on the other side of the Island, Yarmouth resident David Walter has set up a petition to fight to keep the 1/2hr free parking at Moa Place in Freshwater. You can also sign this petition here.
Residents and businesses in Wootton have also expressed concerns, with plans to scrap the 5 hours free parking at Brannon Way car park. Should the proposals go ahead, businesses are facing extra running costs just to park their vehicles to carry out a days work. You can view and sign the petition here.
The long-running petition to keep Appley and Puckpool Car Parks free has now reached over 3,000 signatures. The petition, which is due to be discussed at full council on 21st May, can be supported here.
UPDATE THURSDAY: Anyone wishing to object to the proposal can now do so by email.
All correspondance, with the grounds for your objection, can be sent to [email protected] no later than 12 noon on Friday 6th June 2014. You can also write to (before the above date):
Parking Places Order Consultation
Isle of Wight Council
Enterprise House
St Cross Business Park
Monks Brook
Newport
Isle of Wight
PO30 5WB
