Warning Parking Charges Could “Kill” Fort Victoria

Visitors to Fort Victoria have warned that introducing parking charges could have a serious impact on businesses at the popular beauty spot.

The Isle of Wight Council is consulting on proposals to introduce charges at a number of car parks and streets across the Island, including Fort Victoria.

The country park near Yarmouth is home to a 19th-century Grade II-listed fort, Cafe Verdi, coastal woodland, a nature trail and rock pools.

Visitors spoken to at the site today (Wednesday) said charges could discourage people from stopping there.

One visitor from Cowes said paying £3.60 for a couple of hours, on top of the cost of food and drink, would put people off visiting.

Another said the cost of parking alongside lunch would make a trip to Fort Victoria "a very expensive afternoon".

A third visitor compared the proposal with parking charges introduced in Totland, saying she believed they had contributed to the area becoming less busy and claimed a cafe had subsequently closed.

Berit Anderson said the cost of holidays in the UK was already high, particularly when ferry travel is taken into account.

She said visitors could instead choose to travel abroad, including to destinations such as Spain.

The proposed parking charges are part of a wider package of savings and income-raising measures being considered by the Isle of Wight Council.

Councillors on the Economy, Regeneration, Transport and Infrastructure Committee will consider the proposals next Tuesday (6 October).

A council report says the Island faces significant financial challenges and that the authority needs to increase income and reduce costs to help protect public services.

The proposals include parking charges at locations including Union Street in Ryde, Sandown High Street, Regent Street in Shanklin, Wheelers Bay and Eastcliff car parks in Ventnor, and the new Royal Exchange car park in Newport.

The Fort Victoria proposals remain subject to consultation before any decision is made.