A PLAN to stop vehicles entering Coppins Bridge from the lower part of Newport High Street will go before ruling Isle of Wight councillors next week.
Highway bosses are recommending traffic is diverted away via St James’s Street, Hunnycross Way and Riverway onto Medina Way to ease congestion at the busy roundabout.
The proposal is part of a £9.5 million package of improvements to strategic roads around Newport over the coming years to handle expected traffic growth.
The package, which would be paid for through section 106 contributions that are made by developers for the benefit of the community, also includes changes to the St Mary’s and St George’s roundabouts and the Hunny-hill/Hunnycross Way junction.
Cllr Edward Giles, cabinet member for environment and transport, said the cabinet paper did not amount to the pedestrianisation of the lower section of the High Street.
"The decision seeks to agree to stop traffic entering the Coppins Bridge junction from the lower High Street," he said.
"That then opens up several options to improve the lower High Street — an area that is often extremely busy.
"We will explore many options with the aim of making this part of the town more pleasant to visit and a more prosperous place to trade."
Cllr Geoff Lumley, the Isle of Wight councillor for Newport East, said a plan to pedestrianise Newport High Street eight years ago met a barrage of opposition from townsfolk, unhappy at the thought of traffic being re-directed down their narrow streets.
He said: "And now the Tory Isle of Wight Council appears to be going down that same troubled road."
He also slammed the council over the lack of consultation.
The council said pedestrianisation was only one of a number of alternative solutions for lower High Street.
Cllr Giles added: "The cabinet decision will be about the principle of looking at the lower High Street. Nothing will happen overnight and any identified options will be consulted upon."
• The cabinet meets at County Hall on Tuesday at 6pm.
Reporter: martinn@iwcpmail.co.uk