It’s almost time for the Isle of Wight Festival to begin and The Isle of Wight Council, Island Roads and Hampshire Constabulary are once again working closely with the organisers of this year’s festival to ensure traffic flows smoothly and disruption is kept to a minimum as thousands of music lovers head to the Island for the world-famous event.
The traffic management plan has been designed to ensure disruption to local traffic is kept to a minimum, although some delays are inevitable with the increased levels of traffic on the roads.
The main route for festival traffic from the Red Funnel terminal at East Cowes will be up York Avenue and along Whippingham Road where it will turn right onto East Cowes Road and into the Red festival car park. As a contingency, if there are any substantial hold ups on the Whippingham Road, festival traffic will be turned left onto Alverstone Road, where it can be temporarily ‘stacked’ and released into the network when the roads to the festival site are less busy.
Festival-bound vehicles travelling from the Wightlink terminal at Fishbourne will be directed to the right on to Kite Hill, through Wootton, down Lushington Hill and right at the Racecourse roundabout and then left into the appropriate festival car park.
If any of the entrances to the car parks are temporarily blocked, or an incident occurs on any of the roads being used by festival traffic, there are a number of options that can be considered by the event organisers; the council also has arrangements in place to divert traffic around the highways network if necessary.
Island Echo will be keeping residents up to date with all the latest traffic and travel information throughout Thursday, Friday and Monday.
The one way system along Fairlee Road, Newport will be put in place from lunchtime on Wednesday 8th June. All outbound traffic from Newport will be directed up Staplers Road, however Fairlee Road will remain open to inbound traffic.
Councillor Shirley Smart, executive member for public transport, tourism, recreation and heritage, said:
“The council has been working closely with the event organisers and our partner organisations to once again ensure that this year’s festival will be a successful and enjoyable event. My thanks go to the all involved in making sure the event runs smoothly, with the minimum amount of disruption to residents and to the army of volunteers who will help throughout the event.
“It’s important to stress that for the duration of the festival, Newport will be open for business as usual, and I would strongly encourage members of the public to continue to support local shops and other businesses during the event, as they have done in previous years.”
HALBERRY LANE ESTATE AREA:
Halberry Lane, Cross Lane, Howard Close, Atkinson Drive, Victoria Road, St Pauls View Road, Gordon Road, Harvey Road, Bellemead Lane, Blackberry Close, Greenfields Road, Cooper Road, Bellecroft Drive, Cook Avenue, Oak Close, Fairmount Drive, Mayfield Drive and Cynthia Grove will be closed to traffic except for residents and deliveries from approximately 07:00 on Wednesday 8 until 033:00 on Monday 13th June 2016 in the interests of road safety.
During the above times vehicular access will only be possible into the Halberry Lane Estate area from A3054 Fairlee Road into Halberry Lane and from Staplers Road into Cross Lane.
Note: There will not be access for traffic from Fairlee Road into Victoria Road or from Staplers Road into Fairmount Drive or Mayfield Road.
PEDESTRIAN SAFETY & ONE WAY RESTRICTION FAIRLEE ROAD, NEWPORT:
Due to the number of people attending the festival a one way restriction is necessary to accommodate a pedestrian only lane on the northbound carriageway of A3054 Fairlee Road.
The restriction will be in operation between the entrance to the temporary bus station (at the access to North Fairlee Farm) and the junction of Staplers Road. Traffic in this section of road will only be permitted to travel in the direction towards Newport.
The one way restriction will be in operation from approximately 11am on Wednesday 8th June 2016 until approx. 15:00 on Monday 13th June 2016.
Due to the one-way restriction all traffic travelling from Newport to East Cowes and Ryde, and from Newport to the festival campsite/main festival car park, will be diverted via Staplers Road, Whiterails Road and Station Road to Wootton, A3054 High Street and Lushington Hill.
Note: During the event there will be far more traffic in the Newport/Wootton area, meaning additional delays, especially at peak times.
If you live on the Isle of Wight it is strongly recommended that you avoid driving to the festival site as there will only be a limited number of parking spaces surrounding Seaclose Park. Please arrange a lift, taxi, or walk if you live nearby.
TEMPORARY LATE NIGHT ROAD CLOSURES (RACECOURSE & FAIRLEE ROAD):
With pedestrian safety in mind, it is planned to close the A3054 Racecourse and Fairlee Road to vehicular traffic in both directions between Racecourse Roundabout and Staplers Road after the event finishes each night.
The road closure should be in operation from approximately:
Friday 10th June 23:30, to Saturday 11th June 01:30
Saturday 11th June 23:30, to Sunday 12th June 01:30
Sunday 12th June 22:30, to Monday 13th June 12:30
Vehicular access along Racecourse / Fairlee Road will not be possible, except in an emergency, during each road closure. Access to Island Harbour will however be possible during these times via Racecourse.
EAST COWES ROAD will be closed to all traffic accept residents and deliveries and festival traffic from 07:00 on Wednesday 8th June until approx. 18:00 on Monday 13th June 2016.
FESTIVAL CAR PARKS:
The main IOW Festival car parks are located off Cowes Road, 120 metres on the East Cowes side of Racecourse Roundabout, Whippingham. Event directions will be signposted.
Wightlink Ferry traffic will be directed to the Whippingham Road Car Park and Red Funnel directed to the East Cowes Road car park.
The car parks will open from Thursday 9th June until Monday 13th June 2016.
There is limited parking in Newport car parks and on street. Event goers are advised to use the main event car parks.
FERRY AND GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION EAST COWES, COWES, FISHBOURNE AND YARMOUTH AREAS:
Motorists should be aware that there will be additional traffic delays in the East Cowes, Fishbourne Lane and Yarmouth and Cowes town centre areas during and after the Isle of Wight Festival between the morning of Wednesday 8 and mid to late evening on Monday 13 June 2016, due to high level of ferry traffic returning to the mainland.
Additional parking restrictions and traffic measures will be in operation in the East Cowes area in an effort to reduce traffic congestion and delays, especially on Monday 13 June 2016.
People travelling on the Southampton, Portsmouth and Lymington vehicle ferries are asked not arrive at the Isle of Wight ferry terminals more than 30 minutes before their booked time.
People who have no ferry booking should not try to cross to the mainland from early morning until late evening on Monday 13 June 2016 as all ferries are fully booked.
Dover Road will also be closed in the interests of road safety from Castle Street to the end of the highway (60 metres to the north west).
The closure will be in operation when required between 5am on Thursday 9 and approx. 8pm on Monday 13 June 2016. Vehicles exiting the ferry will be permitted to leave in a south east direction as normal.
The existing taxi rank adjacent to the White Hart Public House will be closed during the closure and a temporary taxi and public drop off / pick up point will be provided in Castle Street (near to Well Road).
TAXI ARRANGEMENTS:
QUAY STREET, NEWPORT: will be closed from High Street to Sea Street between approximately 5pm on Friday 10 and the early hours on Monday 13 June 2016 to allow for an IOW Festival temporary taxi rank. This is the main event pick up point; however Isle of Wight Festival event goers can also be dropped off here.
MILL LANE, NEWPORT: The taxi drop off/pick up point for the campsite is located on the grassed area, when turning left after entering Mill Lane (the access road to Island Harbour).
SCHOOL LANE, NEWPORT: An additional taxi rank will be provided on the eastern side of School Lane between Staplers Road and Highfield Road. This will be in operation from 8am on Friday 10 June until approx. 12pm (noon) on Monday 13 June 2016.
EAST COWES: DOVER ROAD will be closed during the IOW Festival in the interests of road safety (and to reduce traffic congestion in the area) from Castle Street to the end of the highway (60 metres to the north west).
The closure will be in operation WHEN REQUIRED between 5am on Thursday 9 until approx. 11pm on Monday 13 June 2016. Vehicles exiting the ferry will be permitted to leave in a south east direction as normal.
The existing taxi rank adjacent to the White Hart Public House will be suspended, during the closure and a temporary taxi and public drop off / pick up point will be provided in Castle Street (near to Well Road). Access to the IOW Festival taxi rank will be via Newbarn Road and Old Road.
BUS ARRANGEMENTS:
Before, during and after the IOW Festival there will be special shuttle buses in operation which will connect with ferry services from Ryde, Yarmouth and East Cowes ferry terminals to the IOW Festival bus terminal next to the campsite (located at North Fairlee Farm off Fairlee Road).
Temporary traffic lights will be in operation from 11am on Wednesday 8 until approx. 1pm on Monday 13 June 2016 at the junction of Fairlee Road and the access road to North Fairlee Farm where the IOW Festival bus terminal is situated.
Traffic delays will occur at times.
During the day and evening service buses 5 and 9 travelling towards Newport will also pick up and set down at the temporary bus terminal.
A shuttle bus service will operate between Church Litten, Newport and the temporary IOW Festival Bus Station (Adj to the campsite along Fairlee Road), from 8am on the morning on Thursday 9 until the middle of the day on Monday 13 June 2016.
Additional bus services will run including at the end of each night from the temporary bus terminal (adjacent to the festival campsite) to Ryde Esplanade (between the bus station and the entrance to Quay Road Car Park), Yarmouth and Maresfield Road near East Cowes ferry terminals and on major bus routes including: To the West Wight, Shanklin, Sandown, Bembridge, Brading, Cowes and Ventnor whilst there is sufficient demand.
NEWPORT QUAY AND SEA STREET AREA:
QUAY STREET: Will be closed from High Street to Sea Street between 4.30pm on Friday 10 June and the early hours on Monday 13 June 2016 to accommodate the main IOW Festival Taxi rank.
SEA STREET: Will be closed between Holyrood Street and Quay Street with access to premises and businesses maintained only to & from the Holyrood Street direction, due to the IOW Festival Taxi rank in Quay Street
From 6pm on each evening during the festival (or earlier if all off road parking is full) Sea Street and Quay Street will be closed to vehicles except in urgent and emergency situations.
Note: Vehicles will be NOT be permitted to leave Sea Street and County Hall car parks after the event on each night until safe to do so, due to the number of pedestrians leaving the event across The Quay into Sea Street. This will be up to an hour after the end of the event.
JUBILEE STORES & NEWPORT HARBOUR: Access along The Quay (from Hillside to Jubilee Stores) and to Quay Arts Centre and the IOW Council offices will not be possible by car or on foot between 5pm on Friday 10 and 6am on Monday 13 June 2016.
FOOTPATH CLOSURES:
The following paths/areas will be closed in the interests of public/pedestrian safety in connection with the Isle of Wight Festival:
Footpath N120 (from Island Harbour Marina to Seaclose Park access road (adjacent to Seaclose Park) will be closed to pedestrians from 6am on Monday 6 June until the morning on Thursday 16 June 2016.
The Cycle track leading off path N120 to Medina High School and footpath N120 (between Jubilee Stores and Seaclose Park access road) will also be closed from 6am on Monday 6 June until the morning on Thursday 16 June 2016.
