A 15-year vision for Island transport will go out for public consultation in the autumn, Isle of Wight councillors have agreed.
The economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC) voted to move forwards with the draft Island Transport Plan (ITP) at its meeting last Thursday (10th July 2025).
ERTIC approved the draft ITP for publication, but concern was expressed over the timeliness of its datasets.
Jarman: Data out of date
Councillor Chris Jarman, the Empowering Islanders group representative for Totland and Colwell, said data throughout the document was “very historic” and in most cases “not up to date”.
The committee ultimately decided datasets should, where possible, be altered between the meeting and the publication of the consultation.
Stewart Chandler, transport strategy manager at Isle of Wight council, said,
“There will be remaining references to the census data of 2011 because of the recognised impacts the pandemic had on the 2021 census when it came to transport because obviously people shifted their behaviour to such an extent.”
Inclusive transport system
A report prepared prior to the meeting described the ITP’s vision as an ‘inclusive transport system that enables a low-carbon, safe, prosperous and healthy future for all residents and visitors; and seeks to protect and enhance the Island’s unique local natural and built environment’.
It set out four main objectives: a transport network that ‘produces net zero greenhouse gas emissions’ and is resilient to climate change impacts, people and goods travelling ‘sustainably and efficiently’ to and from, and around the Island, an ‘inclusive, accessible and affordable transport network’ and one which is safe, supporting ‘thriving, healthier communities’.
A statutory requirement
The report notes,
“It is a statutory requirement for the Isle of Wight council, as the Local Transport Authority to maintain an up-to-date LTP.
“The ITP has been consciously drafted with climate change risks and opportunities in mind with all key actions and objectives steered in the direction of a net zero goal for the Island by 2040 and the Climate and Environment Strategy.
“It is recognised that a transport network that performs well supports local economic growth, and the ITP is very much based on this principle. It is also recognised that car ownership can be a financial barrier to some, therefore an improved sustainable transport network will go some way to address this issue.
“An efficient and sustainable transport network is essential for current young people, and future generations, to access education, employment, social events, appointments etc.”
Feedback from the autumn consultation will be used to inform a final ITP draft which will be brought back to ERTIC for approval.
It is understood full council will vote on the final draft in early next year.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
