A public meeting has been called for tomorrow evening to discuss the future of a layby in Wootton.
If you’ve ever driven through the village, you’ll be aware of the small layby directly outside Hamilton’s Butchers and the Launderette.
Locals tell us that these two businesses rely heavily on the layby for the survival of their businesses, but fear for their future after news that the Isle of Wight council plan to remove the layby.
New traffic lights and feeder lane
Changes to the road layout are scheduled in conjunction with a planning application, approved back in 2005 for the Woodside Bay Holiday Park (old Warners’ site). The traffic plan that accompanies the planning consent requires that traffic lights be installed at the junction of the end New Road and Wootton High Street with a feeder lane where the layby currently is.
VB has been informed that the land the lay-by is on was gifted to the Isle of Wight Council by local, Bob Cheek with the condition that it be used purely for the purpose of providing a lay-by for the two businesses.
Council deny knowledge of conditions
The council have denied knowledge of any condition over the use the of the land and say that would welcome sight of any paperwork stating as such.
Meeting Tuesday evening
Tomorrow evening, they’ll be given the chance, when Bob Cheek attends a meeting being held at Wootton Primary School, with paperwork in hand.
Locals are expected to attend the school in Church Road from 7pm.
Many thanks to VB reader, Simon Lawton, for getting in touch at the end of last week, to let us know about this meeting
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