I wish to comment on the issues around Newport's empty shops (CP, 23-10-20).

Firstly the floating bridge has been a disaster and totally unreliable for both sides, sending more traffic via Newport at a time when the Cowes-Newport road was being upgraded.

The St Mary’s roundabout has been under construction for 16 months and is only now nearing completion.

This has caused long delays and heavy congestion almost every day of the week and has become intolerable to even think of going to spend money in Newport, let alone try and enjoy the experience.

Car parking charges have gone up and tickets issued shockingly quickly if you are delayed.

Yellow lines have been installed along the Riverway industrial estate to stop free parking and deter people from walking in.

There has been violence and thuggery behaviour on numerous occasions around the town and also attacks taking place in the centre of the town.

Newport has spent a year asking for people's views on the upgrade of the town.

Benches are dirty and old with no real nice dining area for takeaway food or packed lunches.

There are old looking cycle bars to lock your bike to.

While I fully support charities, they take over shops to sell second hand goods on premium rate sites, which would deter new business coming to the area.

There is no greenery or flowers to brighten it up and quite frankly no one seems to care. The place looks filthy and run down.

Only the hard-working shopkeepers, who try their best, make an effort. However they always seem to be up against it with outside furniture licence rises and temporary road closures.

Since the beginning of the pandemic red and white bollards have been left untidily,almost running the full length of the high street.

Clearly no one goes there and the shops have decided that things are never going to change, so they have shut up shop.

For any glimmer of Newport to get to the end of the year and to have an immediate lift, there should be an automatic ban on any further parking restrictions and offer at least an hour's free parking through the middle of town.

It probably will not save Newport especially with Asda on the outskirts as well but I think it may go a little way to helping a bad situation just get a little better.

The Island is lovely and unique, it needs strong leadership, a plan and money. At the moment it feels unloved, abused and drained.

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