“Don’t fix something that isn’t broken.”
Ventnor residents have objected to increasing double yellow lines along a narrow street where many people park their cars.
The Isle of Wight Council is looking to introduce new parking restrictions around the seaside town to increase safety for all road users.
One scheme in particular, on St Catherine Street, has caused uproar with 141 objections submitted against the plans — with only 16 supportive comments.
If approved, the existing double yellow lines would be extended, removing parking in most areas to allow emergency and waste vehicles access.
A petition was started by residents to stop the proposals and public meetings were held to campaign against it.
In comments submitted to the council, one resident said the proposals represented “a complete lack of understanding of the needs of not only residents but the wider Ventnor community.”
They went on to say it would exacerbate the already dire need for parking by pushing more vehicles into an already overcrowded parking system in other streets.
They said it would also cut parking for visitors and shoppers, which would drastically reduce the viability of the town’s businesses as they try to recover from the pandemic.
Others said the parking acts as a natural traffic calming measure which help makes the road safe.
If the parking was removed, there were fears the road could be turned into a rat run with vehicles going faster.
Some alternative suggestions have included introducing a parking permit system or removing the pavement from one side of the road to widen the carriageway.
Of those who support the proposals, comments said the roads was hazardous and dangerous to people and ‘no parking’ restrictions should have been enforced years ago.
The authority says it has tried to keep the extent of the restrictions to a minimum to save as many parking spaces as possible.
However, it also says it has a duty to ensure road users’ safety and the movement of traffic so some spaces needed to be removed.
The council’s cabinet will decide on Thursday (February 9) whether to go ahead with all of the schemes, only some, or none of them.
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