What's been done so far?

Introduction

Ryde is an important transport gateway to the Isle of Wight and is heavily used throughout the year, both for tourist and commuter travel. The interchanges at Ryde Esplanade and Pier Head provide important links for people using the Fast Cat high speed passenger ferry from the Pier Head, the passenger hovercraft that runs between Southsea and Ryde Esplanade and the Island’s rail, bus and taxi services. Nearly 3.5m passengers use these facilities annually.

The existing facilities have been developed over a number of years and are generally agreed to be uninviting, old and tired. The current buildings do not present an inviting or attractive “gateway” to the Island, the layout does not allow easy access between transport modes and the facilities they offer fail to meet the requirements of today’s travelling public. The railway line runs through the Esplanade terminal separating the hovercraft terminal from all other facilities and the Esplanade road divorces the terminal area from the town. Pedestrian access from the town, especially Union Street is difficult.

Background

The Isle of Wight Council identified the opportunity to improve these facilities in the Local Transport Plan (LTP) produced in 2000. A working group was established including public transport operators and a sketch scheme prepared which was than made available as part of an extensive public consultation exercise.

A detailed bid for the funding (£5m) to provide a new transport interchange was submitted to Government Office for the South East (GOSE) and Department for Transport (DfT) in July 2002. The bid set out how the project will increase sustainable travel, improve modal interchange, the linkages between transport modes, encourage rail use and reduce traffic in the town by the development of a park and ride facility at Ryde St Johns railway Station.

The bid was provisionally approved in December 2002, subject to the "successful completion of statutory procedures and final approval by Ministers"

Land ownership / uses

The site is predominantly in two ownerships - Network Rail own the existing Railway station, railway line and the bulk of the bus waiting area, the Council own the remainder of the bus waiting area, highway and surrounding land.

The Pier and Esplanade are within the Ryde Conservation Area, the Pier is a Grade II listed structure made up of three separate strands. Two of these are owned by Wightlink – the ferry operator and Network rail own the rail strand. The foreshore and beach is designated as Ryde Sands and Wootton Creek Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and several areas of Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) border the seafront.

The land is outside the Development Envelope Boundary as indicated on the Statutory Unitary Development Plan and is indicated for leisure purposes.

Development opportunities

Any new building should be of high quality design and construction be visually attractive, sympathetic to the surroundings and allow ease of access and transfer between transport modes. The design should allow for easy access between uses on the north and south of the railway line, provide a safe and comfortable interchange / waiting area and include a ticket office and associated waiting facilities. Public toilets, Tourist information centre, cycle parking with locker facilities and other associated facilities including a cafe / newsagent on the ground floor.

The building will have to be of at least two floors so as to cross the railway line. There is therefore the potential to include upper floor uses, these might include sundeck, public viewing areas and possibly restaurant or other leisure uses.

Delivering the scheme

The Council is looking to build on the work already carried out and move the scheme to a detailed design stage and submission as a planning application. We are looking to develop this in partnership with Network Rail and talks have been re-opened with the bus and ferry operators, Strategic Rail Authority, Island Line and Commission for Architecture for Architecture and the built Environment (CABE)

We will be looking at appointing consultants/ architects to produce a design for public consultation and submission as a planning application. Which we would then hope to submit a in the Spring of 2005 with an anticipated start on site in the Autumn/ Winter 05.

Project Objectives

• To increase sustainable travel on the island.
• To improve modal interchange.
• To improve the linkages between transport modes.
• To encourage rail and other public transport use.
• To reduce traffic in the town by the development of a park and ride facility at Ryde St Johns railway station.
• To provide an adaptable and flexible solution that can be extended.
• To improve pedestrian access to the Esplanade
• To improve the Esplanade in conjunction with the enhancements to regenerate Ryde through The Public Realm Strategy.
• To create a focal point and "Gateway to the Island"
• To create a landmark building of high quality design which the island feels proud about constructing.

Project Benefits

• Identified as a transport hub in South East Plan
• Central part of Ryde regeneration as part of SRB(vi)
• Will encourage modal shift (park and ride scheme)
• Catalyst for further investment
  • Inward investment for Hotel
• Shared priorities
  • Improves accessibility
  • Improves transport flow
  • Reduces congestion
• Further regeneration of the Esplanade
• Creates new jobs
• Increases tourism to Island
• Assists in regeneration of East Wight
• New investment to other Island line stations
  • Sandown and Brading - town councils
  • Shanklin – Island line
• Helps to complete cycle route through Ryde
• Island Build – Labour for construction
• Scheme meets all ten project objectives