Cllr Edward Giles, left, receives the Chapel Street petition from Chris Whitehouse, centre, and Cllr John Hobart.
A CAMPAIGN to open up Chapel Street, Newport, to two-way traffic has gathered pace, after a petition of more than 3,000 signatures was presented to the Isle of Wight Council.
The battle to re-open Chapel Street to traffic coming from New Street to St James’s Street, as well as a scheme to introduce one-way measures on bends in the road to improve safety, was launched at the end of October.
The campaign centred on getting a no-entry sign removed from the New Street end. The sign meant the road was one-way until its junction with Union Street.
Residents wanted the sign removed so drivers could cut back into town without lengthy detours.
Campaigners handed over the 3,178-signature petition to the Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Edward Giles.
The proposal will be considered when the council’s economy and environment scrutiny panel meets at the beginning of February.
Cllr John Hobart, the IW Council member for Carisbrooke, said: "I am delighted we have secured so many signatures in support of this petition. There was considerable local enthusiasm for this campaign and I have no doubt if we had continued over the coming weeks, many more signatures would have been received.
"This is an issue which has resonated with the residents of Newport, Carisbrooke and further afield."
He added: "This has been a real grassroots campaign, which highlights the need for this matter of local concern to be addressed. I hope this can be achieved."
Campaigner Chris Whitehouse said: "It is clear residents feel strongly about this issue.
"I have spoken to a number of residents who did not have the opportunity to sign the petition but would have done so, so the support is much wider than the impressive 3,000 figure suggests."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk