Island Echo always welcome letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
Letter to the editor – 23rd February 2026
“I was dismayed to see the announcement that the IOW Council has decided to install parking meters for short stay parking on the towns high streets.
“Not only will this discourage people from shopping on their local high street, but be the demise of local businesses and the reduction of revenue for the council in business rates, when these small businesses collapse.
Article continues below this advertisement “Furthermore, and perhaps the biggest question is, how much will the installation of parking meters cost?
“Initial installation can cost approximately £40,000 for a small set up, with £5,000 per year running costs. For the 8 proposed sites, that will be a minimum of £320,000, but likely to be more due to the number of spaces being proposed.
“The council is hoping to recoup £162,000 per year. It will take several years just to cover the initial investment and subsequent running costs, by which time there will be no high street businesses left and the Council will have not made a bean.
“Businesses in Lymington have complained it has been turned into a ghost town since the meters were installed in 2022, claiming they have cost £80,000 in lost trade in the past year.
“Perhaps this shambles of a Council will consider investment to improve and develop the Island, rather than run it into the ground.”
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Fantastic news and a victory for common sense! Thank goodness this absurd charge was rejected!
Ma y vehicles park much longer than allocated 1hr
Free parking in Union Street Rdye and the Free 1/2 hr
in Regent Street.
So increased charges or fees wouldn’t have mattered.
People park their vehicles wherever they want.
People on the island don’t like walking. I am surprised
they don’t park inside shops they are that lazy to walk.
It’ll be Pay-by-Phone only, that hasn’t been published or disclosed to the public yet.
Great news with 30 councillors voting to not introduce new parking charging areas – put who were the 8 councillors who voted introduce new charges – we need to know before the May elections?
If the island is in deficit they need to claw back money from
somewhere.
Parking charges is the best way.
Islandwide parking permits of £250.00 per vehicle a
year would be a great way of making money.
That is less than £5 a week.
People have had it good on the island, there ain’t
many places with free parking on the mainland
No wonder IW Council have a deficit, they are NOT
Generating revenue like mainland Councils.
Greedy businesses are finishing off the High Street.
People don’t want to pay £4 for a Latte.
Some businesses charge £3.00 for a fridge magnet, WHY
1 Euro in Tenerife
Businesses are their own demise.
You moron, businesses are struggling because of starmers NI increases on them. Parking charges would of put people off coming, I work for a “greedy” business, so just get back in your box you idiot.
Enough about describing yourself as an idiot,
we already know that.
People need to start paying, try parking for free on
the mainland. NUMPTY
Businesses on the mainland pay higher rents and
higher business rates and their customers still have to
pay to park.
It is like a walk in the park on the island, everyone
expects something for nothing.
Islandwide parking permits would generate
extra revenue for the struggling council and
open up a vehicle compound and tow away
numpties who park their vehicles ILLEGALLY!
Enough is Enough
The reason the Council is (struggling) are the gold plated pensions they have awarded themselves, gobbling up a third of all the money they raise.
Its about time that like the rest of us they went onto same rubbish pensions we are on