Proposal for Saturday Traffic Restriction on High Street

A plan has been introduced to close a section of a town’s main street to vehicles on Saturdays throughout the summer months. Ramsey commissioner Lamara Craine will ask the local authority board to support a summer trial of pedestrianisation for part of Parliament Street. She specified that the proposed closure would be situated between Christian Street and Crellin’s Lane, anticipating it would boost customer traffic for local firms and reduce air pollution in the vicinity. Should the commissioners approve it, the initiative would operate from 10:00 until 14:00 GMT on Saturdays, spanning from May through September. If endorsed, this would position Ramsey to adopt measures akin to those implemented in the island’s southern region. Castletown Commissioners converted the town square into a pedestrian-only zone for seven months this year, building on earlier experimental implementations of the setup. Craine stated that, although it would be “vital” for a consultation to occur before any vehicle prohibition, the plan would boost income for local enterprises and safeguard the health and welfare of local residents by diminishing local pollution in the area. She emphasized that the objective was not to pedestrianise the entirety of Ramsey, but “just a small part”, recognizing that certain individuals expressed “fearful” about a ban on vehicles. She clarified that permitting vehicle access from East Street for deliveries would serve to avert “trucks and wagons mounting the kerb, which happens on a daily basis”. She further stated that eliminating cars from the section between Lloyds Bank and Bar Logo on Saturdays would enable individuals to set up tables and chairs and navigate with greater ease, allowing them to “sit, talk and enjoy Ramsey”. Ramsey Commissioners are scheduled to deliberate the proposal at the board’s December meeting.