A major, multi-million-pound scheme to improve the transport interchange on Ryde Esplanade will go ahead without any consultation on the overall layout, which will change the face of the seaside town for decades to come.
Residents in Ryde have expressed their anger over the lack of consultation in regards to the road layout and demolition of public toilets, among other significant changes, with councillors now saying it is simply ‘too late’ to change the design. However, Islanders are being asked to input on colours and the types of plants used…
Work on Ryde Interchange is set to begin in January 2022 and needs to be completed by March 2023 to meet the requirements of the funding. With this in mind, Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Transport, has said that it is too late in the day to be changing the layout. This is despite a business case being drafted in June 2019 and submitted in November 2019, with funding then awarded in October 2020 – meaning the Isle of Wight Council has had 2 years to consult the public on their proposals.
Under the scheme, the Esplanade will be transformed to reduced the ‘dominance’ of motor vehicles. This will include the removal of several parking spaces outside local businesses and much wider footpaths and cycleways. There will be no new landmark building as was originally proposed many years ago and it appears there will also be no level connection to the hovercraft terminal.
Although locals have not been consulted on the new overall layout the council is now holding a consultation on the look and feel of the area, including landscaping and planting, bus carriageway surfacing, kerbing, pedestrian paving and seating. But Islanders get no say on the road layout, the traffic lights and the loss of parking.
Key Points of the Ryde Interchange Scheme:
- Bus and Train Station retained but refurbished with new facade, toilets and concessions
- Traffic lights installed at the bottom of George Street to allow buses to turn right out of the bus station
- Remodelling of the bus station to allow parallel parking of buses
- New ‘boardwalk’ for pedestrians and cyclists on Ryde Pier utilising the old tramway
- Improved cycling links through the interchange connecting Ladies Walk to Puckpool
- More seating (16 benches) and planting with improved pedestrian crossings too
The consultation survey runs until 3rd August and can be accessed at www.iow.gov.uk/rydeinterchange.
The scheme is supported by a government grant from the Transforming Cities Fund following a successful bid by the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council (together as South East Hampshire Rapid Transport or SEHRT) for £55.6m million, £10 million of which is earmarked for the Ryde Transport Interchange improvements
16 new benches and new toilet – sounds like the Esplanade outdoor drinkers club will be well catered for then.
Oh please! Have our IW Council not learnt from the debacle called “St Mary’s Improvement Scheme” So desperate to spend the £16.5 million pounds they can up with the most ludicrous and unnecessary scheme with traffic lights everywhere. There are so many things wrong with it – so cannot be called an “improvement”. Even went to the meeting where Cllr Ward and Cllr Stewart were not prepared to listen to what anyone said even their own Councillor Price.
So here we go again.
Please Councillor Peachey-Wilcox do something!
Crikey! Please explain why Dover street has become George Street? I hope the council and developers know one from another otherwise we are doomed! Shall we post maps around Ryde to ensure the proposed plans don’t become a farce?
Was a day would have been suprised. Standard for today. Zero f***s given about Us, the people. Silenced and conditioned to sit quiet and behave.
More money wasted. Last administration were bad. Given time and poll tax increases, think latest gang of 18, may prove equally expensive.
This is from the last administration who didn’t think they would lose control of the council !
2019 is mentioned, this would have been planned and passed by the previous IOW councillors. You know the ones who did everything behind closed doors and didn’t make their wheelin’ and dealin’ deals public knowledge. At least Ryde is getting some money and attention, unlike poor Sandown!!!!
You can clearly see the previous tory council thought they were going to sweep in and do exactly as it pleased ! This new council need to think about this situation carefully or they won’t be in long before a vote of no confidence gets called for failing to now consult with the public. Even if it is to late it would be better for the council to ask the people what they think !
It was the previous counil that, as always, was secretive and late with everything. This new council has to get going quickly or lose the money altogether, and then in future be regarded as not serious applicants for Govt money in future. As ever, others have come in to rescue the Island from the Tories.
What an absolute INSULT to Island residents! Message from the outgoing Council:
“No, you can’t have a say in anything that’s imposed on you, even if it directly affects your life. So just be quiet and pay your rates, taxes, etc., while we go on squandering your hard-earned cash.”
“Oh alright, if it will stop you moaning maybe (or possibly not) we’ll let you choose some flowers, but the main decision has been made, so there.”
Can this actually be legal not to consult us residents over important matters like this?
Repair the main roads FIRST they are a disgrace, and if the council has some money left reopen a few toilets rather than indulge in ridiculous, unnecessary, schemes like this.