Just a week after residents in St Catherine Street, Ventnor had the upset of thinking their road would be closed to parking for two months – which turned out to be not as bad as the signage suggested – they now hear that the Isle of Wight council wish to permanently remove all parking along the road.
IWC: “To allow emergency and waste vehicle access”
In the latest Traffic Regulation Order review for the area (District 5), Isle of Wight council are recommending to extend the existing parking restrictions “to allow emergency and waste vehicle access in this very narrow lane”.
The four current parking bays would permanently become subject to ‘No Waiting At Any Time’.
Previously failed attempt
As anyone who lives in, or uses the road know, emergency and waste vehicles have been able to access the road for decades by mounting the pavement on small section of the road.
A previous attempt to remove the parking bays for the same reason failed around a decade ago.
Conservation area
If parking is removed from the road (which is in a Conservation Area), it’s possible the road would become a cut through, drastically altering the character and removing the charm of this road.
Impact on other roads
Although Isle of Wight council say parking will be still allowed at the junction with Madeira Road “as the road widens at that point” parking in St Catherine Street is already difficult for many of the residents, particularly in the summer months.
Removing parking from St Catherine Street will undoubtedly lead to difficulties for residents in neighbouring roads too, who often already share their limited on-street parking with residents from St Catherine Street.
Complete the survey
Residents are encouraged to complete the council’s survey online by 28th October.
Changes are being recommended for a number of roads across Ventnor, details of which you’ll find in the survey.
Share your comments
If you want your views to be heard this is vital to do, however, it means that others won’t see your objections.
We recommend writing your response in a document, so you have a copy of it, and then also pasting it into the comments section here, so others can see the valid material reasons for objecting.
As you complete the form, it’s also important to click all the way through, adding your personal details at the end before submitting it.
