Calls to pedestrianise Isle of Wight town centre of Shanklin

I am a shop owner in Shanklin and I have an idea how improve the town shopping.

My proposal is pedestrianisation of Regent Street from Boots corner to the crossroads, have trees planted, install block paving with seating and the cafes already there providing outside seating for refreshments Continental style.

This would make for a much more pleasant shopping environment, encourage shoppers and would be much safer for the public.

How someone has not been knocked down recently I'll never know, the speed cars go through.

There would be a loss of 20 parking spaces, which is negligible when you consider the car park is often empty.

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Shanklin Jewellers (Image: Shanklin Jewellers)

I would also ask that the shoppers' car park is free for the first hour to encourage pop-in pop-out shoppers.

I feel very strongly about this. The town is part of our social structure and its very important the shops left should remain and new good shops should be encouraged to open.

On a personal level, my shop gets so dirty from traffic pollution particles in the air it causes myself and my staff breathing problems.

Another idea I have is VAT should be cut to ten per cent for retail sales made from actual shops to give them a chance to compete with the Internet.

I hope others will also take up my crusade to save Shanklin shops before it's too late, like some other towns on the Island.