A major, multi-million-pound scheme to improve the transport interchange on Ryde Esplanade will go ahead without any consultation on the overall layout, which will change the face of the seaside town for decades to come.
Residents in Ryde have expressed their anger over the lack of consultation in regards to the road layout and demolition of public toilets, among other significant changes, with councillors now saying it is simply ‘too late’ to change the design. However, Islanders are being asked to input on colours and the types of plants used…
Work on Ryde Interchange is set to begin in January 2022 and needs to be completed by March 2023 to meet the requirements of the funding. With this in mind, Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet Member for Transport, has said that it is too late in the day to be changing the layout. This is despite a business case being drafted in June 2019 and submitted in November 2019, with funding then awarded in October 2020 – meaning the Isle of Wight Council has had 2 years to consult the public on their proposals.
Under the scheme, the Esplanade will be transformed to reduced the ‘dominance’ of motor vehicles. This will include the removal of several parking spaces outside local businesses and much wider footpaths and cycleways. There will be no new landmark building as was originally proposed many years ago and it appears there will also be no level connection to the hovercraft terminal.
Although locals have not been consulted on the new overall layout the council is now holding a consultation on the look and feel of the area, including landscaping and planting, bus carriageway surfacing, kerbing, pedestrian paving and seating. But Islanders get no say on the road layout, the traffic lights and the loss of parking.
Key Points of the Ryde Interchange Scheme:
- Bus and Train Station retained but refurbished with new facade, toilets and concessions
- Traffic lights installed at the bottom of George Street to allow buses to turn right out of the bus station
- Remodelling of the bus station to allow parallel parking of buses
- New ‘boardwalk’ for pedestrians and cyclists on Ryde Pier utilising the old tramway
- Improved cycling links through the interchange connecting Ladies Walk to Puckpool
- More seating (16 benches) and planting with improved pedestrian crossings too
The consultation survey runs until 3rd August and can be accessed at www.iow.gov.uk/rydeinterchange.
The scheme is supported by a government grant from the Transforming Cities Fund following a successful bid by the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Hampshire County Council (together as South East Hampshire Rapid Transport or SEHRT) for £55.6m million, £10 million of which is earmarked for the Ryde Transport Interchange improvements.
Article originally appeared on the Island Echo
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