Temporary parking restrictions have been introduced on Afton Road in Freshwater in a bid to tackle congestion caused by roadside parking during the busy summer holiday period.
Island Roads says vehicles parked on both sides of the road approaching and leaving Freshwater Bay have repeatedly caused problems, particularly during the Summer when large numbers of visitors head to the beach and surrounding countryside.
To help keep traffic moving, Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads have introduced a temporary no waiting restriction on the west side of Afton Road – the northbound side when travelling away from Freshwater Bay.
The restriction, marked by traffic cones, came into force today and will remain in place until early September. It will be enforced by the Isle of Wight Council.
Island Roads says the measures are intended to ensure the free flow of traffic on what is both a bus route and an important access route for emergency service vehicles.
An Island Roads spokesperson has said:
“Those local to the Freshwater Bay area will recognise that there have been repeated issues with cars parking on either side of Afton Road on its approach to and from Freshwater Bay, especially during the holiday period when people visit the Bay area to enjoy the sea and the surrounding downland areas.
“As we are now in the key summer holiday period, Isle of Wight Council and Island Roads are taking some temporary steps to secure the free flow of vehicles through this busy area, which is a bus route and also a key link for emergency service vehicles.
Article continues below this advertisement “This will involve placing a no waiting restriction using cones on one side of Afton Road; the west side – northbound side as you drive away from Freshwater Bay. These restrictions will be in place from today until early September and will be enforced by the Isle of Wight Council.
“This is a short-term solution which will give us valuable knowledge and feedback while we consider the use of an experimental parking restriction for the area and ultimately develop the long-term solution to managing the network in this area.”
