Controversial plans to charge motorists for parking in Ryde’s Union Street are back on the table – just 7 months after similar proposals were scrapped following fierce opposition from businesses and residents.
The shocking new charges are planned for not only Union Street in Ryde, but also Sandown’s High Street, Regent Street in Shanklin and Fort Victoria Car Park in Yarmouth, according to a new report.
For Union Street, the proposals mark the latest chapter in a long-running battle over parking on one of Ryde’s main shopping streets.
In February this year, businesses told Island Echo they feared charging for Union Street’s 82 parking bays would drive shoppers away from the town centre, with one trader warning the move could contribute to the ‘death of Union Street’.
Those plans were subsequently removed from the council’s budget later that month after opposition to the wider parking proposals grew across the Isle of Wight. A petition launched against the measures attracted more than 4,000 signatures.
Similar proposals sparked a backlash in 2018, when a petition opposing paid parking in Ryde town centre attracted 3,850 signatures and councillors unanimously agreed to reconsider the plans, which were dropped in February 2019.
Now, 7 years later, the prospect of charging motorists to park on Union Street has returned once again.
Ventnor’s High Street and St James’ Street, Crocker Street, Union Street, Terrace Road and St John’s Place in Newport are also included in the fresh proposals.
In addition, charges are on the table for sites such as the Wheelers Bay and Eastcliff car parks in Ventnor, St Martin’s Road car park in Wroxall, and Warnes Lane car park in Brighstone – all currently offering free parking.
Other areas listed include Godshill car park, Bouldnor Viewpoint car park in Yarmouth, St Helens Green car park, Gurnard seafront and Hope Road in Shanklin.
The report says it is likely that ‘vocal arguments’ and ’emotive campaigns’ will be raised against the proposals.
It says:
“St Helens Parish Council might argue that charging for parking at St Helens Green Car Park is unlawful and Shalfleet Parish Council will expect significant works to be undertaken to tackle vegetation which shrouds the view at present.
“Fort Victoria concession holders will most likely object strenuously.”
The proposed charges, which are subject to consultation, will be considered as part of a host of savings plans coming before the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC) next Tuesday (6th October).
You’ve got to love this council. The shops are on their knees, so lets put a bullet in their head
The plan is to get vehicles off the road and people
on buses or bicycles.
But in reality, people won’t pay to catch a bus, they’ll just order online.
If the council impose parking charges in these places, shops will definitely close. When shops close, high streets will look dreadful and the council and hmrc won’t be able to milk the shop owners for tax or vat.
Godshill car park is mostly privately owned, just the small bit at the front is council owned. St Helens car park was built on common land many years ago without permission, it is in fact an ‘illegal car park’ the council can only charge for that if they make the car park ‘legal’ and not common land, which the residents will not allow.
The shopkeepers deserve a break. The council should be helping, not hindering.
ERTIC will be discussing “a host of savings plans” at their meeting on 6th October.
How about considering a radical savings plan?
If IW Council scrapped the invidious little lanyard loving Town & Parish Councils, an extra, unnecessary “layer” of bureaucracy, that would save Island residents/home owners £8,054,987, the TOTAL amount they pay for these tinpot amateur politicians.
I am a regular visitor to Swanage, whose Town Council receive a £192.64 precept payment for a Band D property.
Contrast the well kept beautiful Swanage with places such as dilapidated Ventnor at £227.77 and the hell hole that is Sandown at £263.907 for a Band D property.
I suggested such a course of action to Mr Matthews many years ago.
His response was that there was mileage in such a course, but it would need to be approved by IWCouncil.
I feel sure that residents would be glad to share that £8million 50%-50% with the FULL council somehow and have these busybodies removed from their Ivory Towers. They serve NO useful purpose whatsoever, but believe themselves indispensable.
Just DO it!
When will the Isle of Wight Council realise that motorists are not the Golden Goose or an inexhaustible Cash Cow?
every time car parking charges are increased, or on this case introduced, businesses ALL OVER the Island suffer!
Residents Permit Parking has just become another source of revenue used to squeeze ever higher charges for no return to the so-calked ‘User’!
Its about time other road users paid something, so how about £50 Cycle Tax per year, less than £1 per week.
I want those idiots at the council to explain what their long term plan is for recovering the money they will lose in taxed AFTER THE SHOPS HAVE ALL GONE OUT OUT BUSINESS!
Higher Council taxes for households is my guess.
But of course the Council are in the process of making parking free on Saturdays so is this just a ploy to start charging at these sites at all other times …
How long before they charge a clean air zone and congestion
charge.
What about the silver vauxhall that parks near the festival diner bar
in Union Street ALL DAY even though there is a 1 hour limit!!
Just rollout islandwide permit parking charges
Islandwide
Go on kill Ryde..
The council has obviously attended the Trump school of how to muck (apologies for the spellling error) things up. More indirect taxes to add to rising living, energy & fuel costs. Not to mention paying to dispose of more than a poultry 50 litres of domestic waste. As mentioned by others, they are going to loose business rates income too when the shops cease trading. IoW Council – don’t shoot yourself in the foot!!
When some people commented a few weeks back that it was a shame Newport didn’t benefit from free parking like Ryde’s Union St & praising their booming High Street shops I feared for the town. Drawing attention to it alerted the Council that there was a shopping street they hadn’t managed to close yet. It was nice knowing you Ryde businesses. Bye…
The Isle of Wight Council is in a very sticky financial situation and bleeding the residents dry isn’t the answer.
I’d suggest a corporate restructuring activity to reduce the number of very highly paid middle managers to start with.
The town is dying on its face. shops and banks are closing down so what do they do? Charge people to visit what very little is left. Utter madness!
The Isle of Wight is fortunate to have a tremendous bus service.
If you don’t want to pay to park your car, there’s an obvious choice.
And that’s rather the point. Private car ownership has only become widespread in the last 60 years or so. Before that people used buses, bicycles and shoe leather. And High Streets were thriving!
The convenience of car ownership has made people feel more entitled. If you wanted to store two tonnes of any other private property on public land you’d expect to pay for the privilege. Why should your car be any different?
Stop being so lazy and entitled. Get the bus. Cycle. Walk.
If you really cared about the High Streets, you’d use them. You’d stop using large out of town shopping centres and online shopping and use them.
There does not appear to be any mention of the necessary parking charges for supermarket car parks, or at least a “levy” on the supermarkets for the size of their car park.
I personally feel that by reintroducing parking charges it will drive people away & holiday makers just wont come. As parking charges on top of ferry prices why bother.
Our poor Island is suffering