The owner of The Bargeman’s Rest in Newport has said that the business could very possibly become unviable owing to Isle of Wight Council plans to prevent motorists from driving past the public house in the very near future.
As previously reported by Island Echo, the Council are implementing a number of ‘temporary’ changes in Newport and Cowes to give priority to cyclists, as part of encouraging COVID-safe travel. One element of the plan is to install a cycle lane along Little London by enforcing a prohibition of traffic notice and removing a number of parking spaces underneath the dual carriageway flyover.
Andrew Gibbs, who owns The Bargeman’s and a number of other establishments on the Island, has written to Councillor Julie Jones-Evans to make his concerns known.
Mr Gibbs says that he anticipates that the changes will have a devastating effect on the business with a marked reduction in turnover. Along with the already reduced turnover and extra costs associated with COVID-19, he warns this could very possibly make the business unviable.
Speaking about the situation, Mr Gibbs has said:
“Our customers at present drive past checking to see if there are any vacant parking spaces on our site, if not they continue on to the Sea St car parks. If this option is not open to them then they will probably take their custom elsewhere.
“Furthermore, the narrowest part of the road directly in front of the Bargemans will have to be two way as our deliveries and staff parking are located in the lane on the South side of the Bargemans. This will increase the danger to pedestrians and cyclist in this already very narrow area”.
A number of businesses in nearby Holyrood Street have also raised concerns about the implementation of a one-way system there, as well as the removal of even more parking spaces.
I thought that it was already two way for bikes, so why the change?
Isle of wight council messing things up yet again!
Why do people have to drive past to use the pub? There’s a council car park just 200yds away. Not sure I see an issue.
Not sure how many parking bays he will lose my guess would be 12 max. If it’s going to make his business unviable not much of a business man.
For people with disabilities it is a very real issue.
You know it is the progressive way forward. Bikes and not cars. Those who are elderly or disabled, tough you will not be allowed out.
As a cyclist and a driver i dont have a problem with the present system as it is,there will always be a few inconsiderate cyclists, drivers and pedestrians doing away with a few bollards and parking place and making roads one will just cause more problems than it will solve.
Absolutely, The proposed changes are completely unnecessary.
IWC solution to a non existent problem. But quick, lets throw some taxpayers money at it!
the Council are implementing a number of ‘temporary’ changes in Newport and Cowes to give priority to cyclists, as part of encouraging COVID-safe travel.
Playing the covid card is a load of tosh. There is nothing safer, covid-wise, than travelling in the containment of a private vehicle. This council just want to restrict private cars but are too chicken-hearted to tell the truth.
This council acts like a dictatorship. Why do we allow this to happen? It’s a form of masochism….I will just bend over to allow the council to spank me harder…..
A cyclist infect with Covid, can leave a stream of live virus for up to 25 meters behind him. Far from being a Covid friendly form of transport, they can almost unique spreaders of the disease
Why are the council trying to fix something that isn’t broke. If they want to fix something start with that pile of scrap they call a floating bridge
Central govt is providing funds for council’s to improve cycling routes, and as reported in yesterday’s news, ministers are saying that many council’s are making unnecessary cycle lanes and one way systems, without consultation with business owners, therefore causing more problems, which seems to be the case with the IWcc dictatorship. And KevC, if you knew the owner of the Bargemans you would know of his business capabilities in having some of the most successful pub chains on the Island. This is just about spending govt ( taxpayers ,) money on ill thought out ideas, without consideration to the electorate. They are on a mission to get rid of all free on street parking.
Roll on election time.
Sorry Kev C, the comment about bad businessman was made by Stu, not you.
When will the council realise drivers need to park near to businesses.
I guess they are going to fix it, like St Mary’s roundabout… if they had put a bridge across Medina coming out by Stag pub or even Northwood, none of this other stuff would have been wasting the money. Then they could put Clearway signs along Military road by Compton to stop tourists parking half on road and on the grass.. Again that will be happening this coming weekend if heat wave hits !! No room for Islanders to get to our beaches !!