Good news for Ryde as council secures Active Travel funding

It's good news for pedestrians in Ryde as £700,000 has been secured by the Isle of Wight Council to create a safer and more attractive town centre.

The funding from the Government's Active Travel Fund will transform Ryde High Street by making it safer and more pedestrian friendly.

The project will also create new amenity areas, increase accessibility and emphasise the historic elements of Ryde town centre.

The scheme forms part of the Ryde High Street Heritage Action Zone programme being delivered by a partnership of Ryde Town Council, Isle of Wight Council and Historic England.

The project aims to improve the High Street by rationalising and upgrading street furniture; repaving; enhanced planting; new traffic-calming measures to slow permitted vehicles and enhanced cycle parking.

The plans also include improvements to Town Square and Minghella Square to create more space for activities and events, seating at regular intervals to improve accessibility and outdoor seating and display areas for cafes and shops.

Councillor Phil Jordan, Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, said: "We’re delighted to have received this funding, which will help us to improve a key area of Ryde.

"This project centres on making the High Street a safer place for pedestrians while at the same time improving the quality and design of the public realm. 

"Visually,  it will be clear this will be a pedestrian zone with a gateway feature at the northern end and a controlled prevention and prohibition of vehicles in place along the length of the High Street.

"This scheme will enable full use and enjoyment of the pedestrian zone of the High Street which is currently compromised by the way vehicle access is managed."

Councillor Karen Lucioni, Cabinet member for community safety, said: "People’s safety is our first priority.

"These improvements have been designed to address the concerns raised by our residents over many years concerning the safety and wellbeing of pedestrians in the High Street."

The scheme extends from the entrance to the High Street from Garfield Road in the north to the junction with Star Street in the south.

Linking with the investment in the new Interchange and pier on the seafront, it will continue the regeneration of Ryde, promoting healthy, greener travel through the whole town.

This is a priority of the Ryde Place Plan which guides partnership working with local stakeholders to deliver sustainable regeneration and demonstrates to potential funders there is a shared vision for change.

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for regeneration, said: "This active travel award shows how the place planning approach taken by the council, working alongside partners, can bring many funding streams to realise a place's vision, building on previous grants from Historic England and Arts Council for Ryde. Well done to all involved."

The bid was supported by the Island's MP, Bob Seely, who added: "I am delighted we have been successful in securing yet more investment into Ryde. This is another major win for the town.

“Coming alongside the multi-million-pound improvement works to both Ryde Interchange and the pier, plus the £2 million DepARTment project for the former Elizabeth Pack department store, Ryde is successfully attracting major investment throughout the town making it a greener and more vibrant place for residents and visitors.”