The Isle of Wight Festival is once again returning to the Island following its cancellation last year due to the pandemic.
The Isle of Wight Council, Island Roads and Hampshire Constabulary have been working closely with festival organisers to ensure traffic flows smoothly and disruption is kept to a minimum.
Traffic management plans
The council and partner agencies have approved the traffic management plans submitted by the event organisers, covering areas such as event car parks, separating Red Funnel and Wightlink traffic and measures to ensure close co-ordination between partners.
The plan is designed to ensure disruption to local traffic is kept to a minimum, although some delays are inevitable with the increased levels of traffic on the roads.
Main route for festival traffic
The main route for festival traffic from the East Cowes Red Funnel terminal will be up York Avenue and along Whippingham Road, where it will turn right onto East Cowes Road and into the festival car park.
Festival-bound vehicles travelling from the Wightlink terminal at Fishbourne will be directed to the right on to Kite Hill, through Wootton, down Lushington Hill and right at the Racecourse roundabout and then left onto East Cowes Road and into the festival car park.
People requiring access to Newport Quay will be required to use the bridge and avoid going through Seaclose Park.
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One-way system on Fairlee Road
There will be a one-way system in place along Fairlee Road from lunchtime on Wednesday 15 September. All outbound traffic from Newport will be directed up Staplers Road.
If any of the entrances to the car parks are temporarily blocked, or an incident occurs on any of the roads being used by festival traffic, there are a number of diversion options where festival traffic can be temporarily ‘stacked’ away from the main roads and released into the network once the problem has been resolved.
Travel info
Residents will be kept up to date with routine traffic information, details of road closures and diversions, and updates about those council services affected by the festival. Hampshire Constabulary will provide security and safety updates. Messages will be shared via social media and local media.
People are also encouraged to look at the dedicated festival pages on iwight.com, which contain important information about the road closures and diversions, including access to Seaclose Park and changes to council services, as information becomes available. You can see this information on the IWC Website.
Plan your routes carefully
The council asks that residents plan their routes carefully to avoid the designated festival traffic routes on the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Monday of the event — when traffic volumes will be their highest.
The official temporary traffic orders can be viewed on the IWC Website.
Useful websites/ social media accounts
Isle of Wight Council
Island Roads:
- www.islandroads.co.uk
- @Islandroads
Hampshire Constabulary:
- @HantsPolice
- @IOWightPolice
- @HantsPolRoads
- @IOWRuralPolice
- @FestivalCop
www.facebook.com/hampshire-constabulary
Transport updates:
- Southern Vectis: @SouthernVectis
- Wightlink: @wightlinkferry
- Red Funnel: @RF_Travel_News
- Hovertravel: @HovertravelLtd
- South West Trains: @SW_Trains
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
