Passenger Watchdog TravelWatch ISLE OF MAN predicts traffic and parking chaos at Ronaldsway Airport at peak times if Government proposals announced on the 22nd October are implemented in full. Banning all pick ups from outside the terminal and requiring private hire vehicles to use spaces in the short term public car park will mean greater use of that car park, with increased barrier congestion. The proposed removal of the designated 30 minute maximum ''disk zone'' will result in car park spaces nearest the terminal not being available for those collecting or dropping off passengers, with the result that these drivers will create extra congestion as they search, perhaps fruitlessly, for spaces in the car park.
TravelWatch has already submitted a comprehensive critique of these plans together with constructive suggestions to the Department of Infrastructure. We have also requested a meeting with the Minister, as we believe that the savings he seeks can be achieved in ways which are much less disruptive for passengers.
Airport parking provision is generally based on the principle that fast turnover short term parking should be nearest to the terminal, with long term parking further away. Irrespective of whether the first few minutes of parking should be free or not, TravelWatch calls for the Government to manage the car parking provision for the benefit of both passengers and efficiency by
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• continuing the existing disk zone,
• relieving pressure on short term parking space by discouraging long term parking in the short term car park.
Our previous discussions with the Department on car parking arrangements at the airport led to improvements for all concerned and we look forward to continuing that dialogue, to the avoidance of potential traffic chaos and customer complaints.
