Ahead of next week’s extraordinary council meeting to debate halting the St Mary’s Roundabout scheme, the Isle of Wight’s People Powered CIC (PPCIC), have thrown their hat into the ring.
The Community Interest Company – run by Will Ainslie and Martin Gibson which delivers practical projects, research and strategic transport planning services – are no strangers to the Isle of Wight council. They were previously commissioned to lead a feasibility study into the introduction of an ‘e-cargo’ bikes scheme.
Pause and re-evaluate
This week PPCIC have emailed all Isle of Wight councillors and shared on social media information they believe would justify a pause and re-evaluation of the scheme, estimated to last at least 15 months.
PPCIC’s briefing report not only provides commentary on the council’s rationale for the planned scheme, but also includes their own suggestions to “help maximise the benefits of any investment that does occur at this junction”.
Growth projections questioned
The company have analysed statistical models used to justify the major road scheme.
In their briefing notes PPCIC say,
The 2008 Newport traffic model (using TEMPro) predicted traffic growth of around 26% in the period 2007-2020, yet in the period 2007-2018 according to the Department for Transport’s own traffic counts traffic actually decreased by around 1%.
It goes on to add,
Vehicle mileage on the IOW is lower in 2018 than in 2004 and has largely plateaued since around 2002. Based on these various indicators it appears likely the forecast traffic growth is significantly higher than is actually likely, undermining the case for such a large increase in road capacity at the junction
The full briefing notes and graphs can be found below. The company invite councillors to speak to them with any queries ahead of the meeting on Wednesday when the motion to postpone the works will be debated.
Approved but to be debated again
Newport and Carisbrooke Parish Council recently voted in favour of asking the IWC to halt the plans, but on Wednesday the Isle of Wight council voted in favour of going ahead with them.
Online petition
A petition set up by Michael Smith, calling on the work to be halted, is gathering pace with over 1,000 signatures at time of publishing.
The extraordinary meeting takes place from 5pm at County Hall on Wednesday 25th September.
The documents
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