Children’s lives will be safer now traffic restrictions on a road in Cowes have been approved, according to the local councillor.
Traffic regulation orders were approved in East Cowes and Cowes at Thursday’s cabinet meeting to increase the level of safety in the areas proposed.
On Baring Road in Cowes, Councillor Paul Fuller said residents will be ‘putting out bunting’ now the orders have been approved as it will lower the level of danger for Gurnard Primary School children.
Cllr Fuller told cabinet members it had been a personal battle for 12 years to introduce restrictions to the road after 6 minor incidents had happened outside the school, involving school children. He said he had been working with Baring Road residents, the school and other stakeholders to ensure the scheme works and is pleased to see the restrictions approved as children’s lives will be safer now.
On parts of the road closest to the school, a ‘no waiting at any time’ parking restriction will be introduced and ‘no loading’ between drop-off and pick-up times.
3 of the schemes proposed for Cowes on Ash Grove, Newport Road and Stephenson Road have been removed from the orders due to recent concerns raised.
Orders have also been approved for East Cowes — some of which are already informally in place but now must legally be followed.
Cabinet member for highways and infrastructure, Councillor Phil Jordan, said the regulations were being introduced to address safety concerns but had been met with mixed reactions.
In some areas, on-street parking is being removed, without alternative arrangements provided, in areas where parking is already tight.
Cllr Jordan said the council must be mindful that they do not carry on taking off car parking spaces without due consideration and suggested a review of traffic regulation order policy in the future to avoid the continual removal of on-street parking.
More information about the orders introduced can be found in the council reports, listed on the agenda at https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=145&MId=1290.
