Despite part of York Avenue reopening this week, delays on Red Funnel’s ferry service to and from the Isle of Wight have caused gridlock in East Cowes again this morning (Friday).
Red Funnel are reporting delays of up to an hour for passengers expecting to cross the Solent, which has resulted in yet more traffic gridlock in the town.
Deja vu?
East Cowes was blighted with gridlock and confused drivers last week, when several roads were closed in the town and diversion signs led to great confusion.
It resulted in heavy traffic, including HGVs, coaches and buses using narrow roads, or Old Road, which has no pavements but plenty of pedestrians, including school children.
Love: “Red Funnel just don’t seem care”
Cllr Karl Love told News OnTheWight,
“Anyone who lives in East Cowes just knows until we have the promised large state of the art technology marshalling yard, nothing is going to change! Red Funnel just don’t seem care.
“They told an emergency meeting called at the town hall only yesterday that it’s all about their business volumes. We have to wait until they make a decision rather than them implementing a positive community-focused action plan now.”
Palin: Time for Red Funnel take responsibility for the disruption
East Cowes town councillor, Cameron Palin, told News OnTheWight,
“Once again we have seen the complete gridlock of our town affecting our whole community. It was just last Friday when we saw this same level of disruption, resulting in our businesses shutting as footfall was near to nothing.
“It is time Red Funnel take responsibility for the disruption they cause and the impact that has had and continues to have on our community. I look forward to working with the Isle of Wight council to help create an emergency plan that will help mitigate issues in the future.”
Love: Red Funnel should be held to account
Cllr Love went on to add,
“Every business in East Cowes is affected by Red Funnel traffic obstructing the highways. Red Funnel should be held to account.”
He pointed out that Red Funnel’s extra large yard should be used to accommodate vehicles within their own premises when things go wrong.
Love: “Completely gridlocked despite Red Funnel’s promises”
Cllr Love said,
“Of course I accept that things can go wrong occasionally, but for our townspeople this is a regular event and there is nothing occasional about it.
“We are again completely gridlocked despite Red Funnel’s promises and being told its a one off.”
He finished by saying,
“I look forward to working on an emergency plan and we must consider strengthening sanctions. Of course Red Funnel might want to bring forward its own voluntary reimbursement, compensation package for our townspeople! Or we can consider take legal action to impose actions and fine.
“We would definitely fine businesses if they were to leave their business equipment out on the pavements obstructing them for others.
“This gridlock cannot continue.”
Images: Peter Genari
