In September  the Isle of Wight Council members decided not to support a petition which aimed to protect the integrity of Ryde Esplanade from an appalling proposal in conjunction with Portsmouth City Council. It would make enormous changes to Ryde Esplanade, without going through the same planning process we, the undersigned are expected to follow . These changes will to apply to our public property.

The people of Ryde and visitors enjoy the seafront and beaches. We want the town to thrive and expect to have a say in major changes.

The Ryde Interchange proposals included in a Transforming Cities Bid (document released by the council on 22nd June 2021) will be delivered mainly by Ringway Island Roads- )owned 75% by Eurovia), and will cause catastrophic damage to this SPA, Ramsar and SSSI designated area which is also of major economic and cultural importance by:

• increasing roads: by building 1.3km2 of new highway, as a private access road to Ryde Pier
• removing popular public facilities: including the block of 8 most used public conveniences on the whole Isle of Wight, and a pleasant cafe.
• taking away public open space at 1) Western Gardens and 2) Rose Garden at eastern gardens- which have protection against criminal damage
• removing car parking spaces on Esplanade needed by businesses to thrive
• obscuring views of our Victorian Seafront buildings by parking buses in front of them  
• rerouting nearly all Ryde buses up a narrow residential hill-George St
• increasing traffic congestion and unsafe crossing points thereby damaging the environment and putting pedestrians at risk
• adding street clutter such as signage and traffic lights where presently traffic flows freely

Ryde Esplanade is protected by a 2011 Conservation Zone policy is SPA, Ramsar and SSSI designated. All changes should be of the highest quality, well advertised and scrutinised through the planning process by the public. The IWC does not have a mandate that proposed changes will be an IMPROVEMENT.

All funds raised will go towards legal costs of getting an injunction against IWC to halt the process whist legal proceedings for criminal damage, and maladministration  by a public body are sought at Judicial Review.

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