Isle of Wight councillors reject new town centre parking charges

Councillors on the Isle of Wight have rejected proposals to introduce new parking charges across several town centres following a petition with over 2,000 signatures. During a meeting of the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC), representatives from various political groups expressed concerns that increased fees would harm local businesses and tourism.

Critics argued that parking charges have already contributed to empty shop units in areas such as Sandown, Freshwater, and Newport. Councillors also noted that free parking is a vital component for the success of regeneration sites like Fort Victoria and maintains the accessibility of villages such as Gurnard.