Community feedback has helped shape revised plans for Ryde Interchange, which have been revealed in a new masterplan.
More than 20 modifications are being proposed for the multi-million-pound scheme which went out to public consultation over the summer.
The project aims to increase connectivity for travellers at the gateway to Ryde while at the same time making the area around the interchange, pier and Esplanade a better and safer place for people to visit and enjoy as a destination in itself.
A 6-week consultation sought views from the community on key elements which will define the look and feel of the area, including landscaping and planting, bus carriageway surfacing, kerbing, pedestrian paving and seating. Just 300 people completed the detailed online survey with many more submitting basic paper responses.
The results of the consultation are contained in a new report that was published on Wednesday ahead of the Cabinet meeting on 14th October. As well as providing a detailed summary of the responses, the paper includes a list of proposed modifications to the plans — based on public feedback — which councillors are being asked to approve.
These include:
- retaining a temporary public toilet provision at Western Gardens until the new fully accessible facilities are opened as part of the railway station refurbishment
- more on-street parking to support local sea front businesses
- extended cycleways and comprehensive cycle/scooter parking
- contemporary stone planters with the existing stone walls fronting the Rose Garden
- an overall ‘seaside’ planting scheme
- accessibility improvements, traffic calming features and less clutter
- limestone style paving for pedestrian areas in keeping with other parts of Ryde and conservation type kerbs and traditional style black street furniture
- the retention of the ‘tulip tree’ and an expanded public space for busking or alfresco dining
- bus shelters incorporating real time bus information and heritage style benches and bins
The plans will see the bus terminal re-modelled to provide a safer environment for bus users/pedestrians with more public amenity space, increased planting and less hard surfacing for vehicles.
A new road layout will allow buses that already route via George Street to emerge from the bus terminal and head straight up George Street, as opposed to the current arrangement where they have to use the roundabout at the end of the Esplanade. However, this means the installation of traffic lights which will add to congestion in the area.
Other key elements of the wider project are being delivered by Wightlink — by transforming the disused tramway into a pedestrian and cycling boardwalk up the pier — and South Western Railway, which will refurbish the terminal building to create through access to the reinstated pier, new fully accessible toilets and expanded concessions. There will be no direct access to the Hovertravel terminal, however.
Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said:
“The public consultation has played a big role in shaping our plans for Ryde Interchange and again I would like to thank everyone who took the time to get involved.
“We listened very carefully to what our residents and businesses had to say and we have made changes wherever possible. However, with some elements of the project tied to conditions and aspirations of the grant money, some competing requests and within practical limitations, we were not able to please everybody on everything we need to do.
“I know that the vast majority of people are behind the project which I firmly believe will be a credit to Ryde. This is a major step towards our ambitions of regenerating the wider area by creating a fully integrated, user-friendly gateway transport hub as a cleaner and greener gateway for the Island and a vital part of the upcoming National Bus Strategy and Local Transport Plan.”
Subject to Cabinet approval, work is due to start in early 2022 and take around 12 months to complete.
To read the report in full, visit https://iow.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s4979/Report.pdf.
How does Jordan know the vast majority of people are behind the project? Was there a poll I missed?
Never wanted it myself, not a fan of urban sea fronts.
The best revision of plans would be to leave it alone, its not broken and has worked well for decades..councellors love to be remembered by changing anything they can so their legacy isnt just full of broken promises.
Some ex ones have very very vested interests in gaining more people to spend there.
‘ a cleaner and greener gateway ‘ How does installing traffic lights, make for cleaner/greener. All the vehicles queued up with engines running, waiting for the buses to get across, let alone pedestrians.. A simple, give way to the right, junction, similar to a roundabout, as already have pedestrian crossing either ends.. why traffic lights..
This council seems he’ll be t on spending money on things totally stupid. It is not just the councillors rubber stamping it is the idiots in county hall coming up with pocket lining schemes. I believe that the time has come for the entire council set up on the Island to be placed onto administration and a full enquiry SR up to see just where our money is going. And, no, I will not mention the non-floating bridge fiasco.
If they want to improve it, just return it to how it used to be before it was “modernised” into what it is now. It used to be better than it is now, now they are going to make it worse than it is now. If every single person (apart from them) on the Island disagreed with it, they would still go ahead with it anyway, so they can stop with the “we listened” nonsense. They might have listened but it doesn’t mean they will take any notice or respect anyone’s wishes and act on them.
The green thing to do is leave it as it is. Works well enough. In past years I have used it for getting to work. Never had an issue at rush hour. If Wight link want money to fix up their pier make them pay for it. This is what is happening here. Wight link want siphon money from the project to fix their pier.
Why not just fix the train line so there are less road users? Not to mention the benefit to tourists and commuters alike. Maybe it’s too easy and I’m missing something…
How does receiving a petition with 3000 signatures against the project equate in Mr Jordan mind to the vast majority of Ryde residents being in support of the development?
How does he quantify the statement the Residents are behind the project?
Has anyone at this late stage even seen a visual representation of the development?
Not much to ask if they spending 10m of our
money
Having tinkered with a turkey, and tossed in a ton of words to make it sound good, the Council are still hell bent on wrecking Ryde seafront. The absence of crucial audits and visualisations (not to mention a decent design consultancy) should render their scheme invalid, but the destructive agendas are set. For £4M we get more queuing on the pier, a less safe (actually dangerous in one place) road layout, discrimination against the most vulnerable public place users, and complete disregard for the historic setting. Oh, and for a further £3M, pedestrians are being forced off the PROMENADE Pier to favour its use by cars. It’s a CARbuncle indeed
They are only wasting this money for moneys sake. As the cash is coming from main government and if they don’t spend it on this one project there will be no more grants in the future.
Myself personally, would tell them to stick it, and leave it be.
Nothing but greed and shear authorized vandalism on a grand scale.
Sod the little people, who like it as it is.
Criminal….!