The Mayor of Ventnor has formally requested that car parking charges are scrapped in Ventnor for the Christmas period.
The call comes after the devastating landslide in Bonchurch resulted in one of the main roads in and out of Ventnor to be closed, followed the next day by a collapsed sewer the other side of Ventnor halting access between upper and lower Ventnor – another main route in and out of the town.
The two closures have caused havoc for public transport, deliveries, school runs etc.
Challenging circumstances
Councillor Steve Cooper explained to News OnTheWight,
“I have formally asked the IWCC and all VT councillors to consider and to agree with a full suspension of car parking charges over the Christmas period owing to the challenging circumstances to which we (Ventnor town), found ourselves in.”
Permission sought from both councils
Councillor Cooper says he is awaiting responses from his colleagues at Ventnor Town Council and from the CEO of Isle of Wight council, Wendy Perera.
He added,
“Ventnor has a mix of car parks controlled and managed by VTC and others that the IWC control, hence the request for approval from my fellow VT councillors and authorisation from the CEO of the IWCC.”
Any decision by Isle of Wight council to forgo car parking income could need to be made by the Cabinet, given it will affect the financial position.
More details to follow.
