Chris Whitehouse (centre) and Cllr John Hobart present the petition to Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for highways Cllr Edward Giles.
UPDATED 14:35*
CAMPAIGNERS who called for a Newport street to be re-opened to two way traffic may have lost their battle with the Isle of Wight Council.
More than 3,000 people signed a petition calling for Chapel Street to be re-opened to traffic coming from New Street to St James’s Street, along with the introduction of one-way measures on bends to improve safety.
The campaign was backed by Isle of Wight Councillor for Carisbrooke Cllr John Hobart, as well as election hopeful Chris Whitehouse.
But in a report due to go before the economy and environment scrutiny committee on Wednesday, next week, the strategic director for economy and environment Stuart Love said he would not recommend a change to the current system.
He said in the report: "I could not recommend changing the traffic management arrangements here, which have been reviewed a number of times both by council officers and external consultants appointed to develop and review the Newport traffic model, all of whom have concluded that the current arrangements, although not ideal are the best that can be achieved with the existing highway infrastructure.
"There has been no material change in circumstance sufficient to justify revisiting the last decision in December 2010, which confirmed the prohibition of driving order here.
"A preferred officer solution to improve the cross town traffic movements would be to develop a link via the Morey’s site although that is dependent upon development being brought forward on that site by the land owner."
He recommended councillors note the campaigners concerns, but that no changes be made.
*Mr Whitehouse said: "The recommendation is not entirely unexpected, but we hope that, when the case is formally made to the scrutiny panel, the members will see the wisdom of what has been proposed on behalf of residents and we still hope that will result in support in principle to the removal of the no entry sign."
Reporter: ross.findon@iwcp.co.uk