Pedestrian improvements have been approved for Newport High Street — which will see a large stretch of parking removed and pavements widened.
As part of the Newport High Street Heritage Action Zone, £3 million improvements, in a ‘People First Zone’, were last night (Thursday) approved by the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet.
The plans include removing 22 parking spaces on the High Street between St James’s Street and Holyrood Street; widening footways to help slow down traffic; and accessibility and appearance improvements.
Jones-Evans: A step towards a better world
Cabinet member for regeneration and business development, Cllr Julie Jones-Evans said when Historic England visited the town they noted the domination of cars on the High Street and how the Georgian buildings were largely ignored.
She said,
“It is just a step towards a better world, we want to see more people walking, cycling, fresher air; we want more space to be with each other, shop and dwell. Let’s get back to our lives.”
Call to defer the decision
There were concerns, however, over the number of responses to the consultation, and there was a call to defer the decision until more views were heard.
The council did carry out a consultation where 182 responses were received — 63 per cent supporting the plans and 32 per cent against — and community events were held.
Cllr Ian Ward warned by removing the parking it would drive people towards shopping in the supermarkets on the outskirts of town and potentially damage trade.
8,000 extra visits to Newport since hour-free parking
Cllr Jones-Evans, however, said since the introduction of the hour-free parking in short-stay car parks in the town centre, there were 8,000 extra visits to Newport in the first six weeks of the scheme.
She also said, anecdotally, she had been told fewer people had gone to Asda, the on-the-edge-of-town supermarket, and it was not the death of the High Street.
Jones-Evans: Total pedestrianisation claims are just scaremongering
Answering fears it would lead to total pedestrianisation of Newport High Street, Cllr Jones-Evans said it was scaremongering but she felt fine about the scheme being approved by cabinet and said they could not please everyone.
Planning will now go ahead to implement the scheme.
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
