Ringwood's High Street Parking and Congestion being reviewed

By Niki_B | Thursday, July 22, 2010, 13:03

Finally the New Forest District Council (NFDC) will be reviewing the current parking and traffic issues along Ringwood High Street.

Busy Ringwood traffic
Congestion in Ringwood

Currently the High Street has unclearly marked ‘loading bays’ and ‘disabled bays’ at the top end of the High Street that are often used illegally for ‘casual parking’ with short term parking at the lower end of the town in Market Place.

The loading bays are necessary for traders due to the lack of rear parking facilities along this stretch of road. Most shops these days will have their deliveries come in through the back of the premises which is a lot more efficient and creates a lot less disruption to business.

These loading bays are not clearly marked so it would appear that people unfamiliar with the area may think that the bays are for 'short term parking'. This causes a lot of inconvenience for the deliveries but is also regarded as a safety issue for pedestrians as they try and cross the road between parked cars.

When all the bays are filled with stationary cars, the two way traffic is held up considerably causing tail backs in both directions.

The width of the road is quite narrow so when the loading bays are full, some vehicles have to mount the kerb to get past creating even more danger for pedestrians.

The NFDC are proposing to make changes to the size of the bays but is this enough? Can we not restrict the traffic going through the High Street i.e. Buses, Taxis and deliveries only? Could we ask all traders to request deliveries made at more responsible times?

Normal traffic could easily be diverted away from the High Street and we have plenty of parking in the Main Furlong Car Park.

It has been suggested that we pedestrianize the High Street to make the whole shopping experience more pleasurable and thus increase business during the day and encourage outside dining and drinking to spill into the High Street by night.

What are local thoughts on this matter? How can we improve this area? If you would like to get more involved in decisions such as these, either you are a business effected by the congestion or you are a local shopper who has recently been nearly mowed down by a speeding vehicle along this stretch.

Join in the debate and lets discuss further, there will be a Travel and Tourism Meeting in a few weeks and these issues are relevant.

Re-post Write a story

Ads by Google

Comments

Hi Jim...Ringwood is a great town! How about bringing back 'Ringwood in Bloom' to transform the High Street with wonderful colours and create that competitive spirit?

By Niki_B at 14:27 on 30/08/10
Report
Pedestrianisation of the High Street was first discussed in 1963. I talk to traders all the time. It will KILL the High Street. It's happened in so many towns already. Traders do talk to each other and work together all the time. They are just missing a co-ordinator. Simple really.
Make High Street one way. Problem solved.
Try not to be negative when discussing Ringwood. The traders are positive and need positive people around them!!

By Jim_Stride at 22:07 on 29/08/10
Report
I agree entirely. I went to a 'promoting tourism meeting' which should include all things related to 'updating the town'. Hardly anyone was there and the people that were there were not the sort of people to have 'fresh and inspiring' new ideas for the town.
I would like to see all the shops on the High Street get together to form a strong and gutsy committee to discuss and put forward viable ideas to improve the town. Its dated, uninspiring and, yes, I admit to going elsewhere on a weekend unfortunately. I know someone who used to have a shop in Ringwood and found most of the other 'old' traders not very welcoming and suppportive. I believe the shops should support each other all the way and get a vision of how they want Ringwood to be. If you are interested, I will let you know when the next tourism meeting will be, they are trying to form a new tourism board, this could be our chance!

By Niki_B at 17:55 on 22/07/10
Report
The idea of pedestrianisation of the High Street has been about since I moved to the town in 1982, along with all the schemes over the years to revamp the town centre.Recently I got stuck in traffic in the High street, and initially refused to drive up on the curb, as I have always thought it illegal. However, as everyone was blasting me on their horns I also drove up on the pavement, I now avoid the town centre. I have used the loading bays when collecting sacks from the pet shop, after paying earlier when on foot. Very useful, but after my previous experience as I say I never go that way.
I like living in Ringwood, but the town is fading away, all the things that attracted me are going, as someone said to me recently, Why would you want to go there? I realised recently I had not been into town for 6 weeks, only went in as I needed something from the wonderful fabric shop.

By chickensharon at 16:02 on 22/07/10
Report