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Information for Island Residents

The Isle of Wight Festival will takes place on the 10, 11 and 12 June. The Isle of Wight Council is working with partner agencies to ensure that the festival is an enjoyable and safe event for both residents and visitors.


Residents parking and permits

A resident only parking zone will again be in place in the Cross Lane/Halberry Lane estate area and residents have been issued with permits. Any vehicle parked within the above area on-road and not displaying an Isle of Wight Festival Residents parking permit is likely to receive a parking ticket.

Between approximately mid morning on Friday 10 June and early afternoon on Monday 13 June, there will be restricted access to all the roads in the Halberry Lane/Cross Lane estate area, however, residents and deliveries will be able to use the roads as normal.

During the period of the restriction, vehicle access for residents and deliveries into all of the roads will only be possible from Fairlee Road (into Halberry Lane), and from Staplers Road (into Cross Lane). Access will not be possible from Fairlee Road (into Victoria Road) and from Staplers Road (into Fairmount Drive and into Mayfield Drive).

  • Please click here to download a letter sent to residents of the Fairlee Road & District regarding Parking Restrictions (May 2011)
Please note:

Resident Parking Permits are provided to residents for their own personal use only and are not transferable. Any residents attempting to sell these permits on to a third party should therefore be aware that doing so will result in an instant loss of entitlement to any future permits


  • Please click here to download the Isle of Wight Festival Residents Newsletter (Fairlee Road & District - June 2011)


Traffic information and how to get to and from the festival

Pedestrian safety & Newport one-way restriction (Fairlee Road)

Due to the number of people attending the festival a oneway restriction is necessary to accommodate a pedestrian only lane on the northbound carriageway of A3054 Fairlee Road. The restriction will be in operation between the entrance to the temporary bus station (at the access to North Fairlee Farm) and the junction of Staplers Road. Traffic in this section of road will only be permitted to travel in the direction towards Newport. This will be in operation from approximately 10am on Thursday 9 June until early afternoon on Monday 13 June.

Due to the one-way restriction all traffic travelling from Newport to East Cowes and Ryde, and from Newport to the festival campsite/main festival car park, will be diverted via Staplers Road, Whiterails Road and Station Road to Wootton, A3054 High Street and Lushington Hill.


Isle of Wight Festival Road Traffic Plan 2011

Possible delays

During the event there will be far more traffic in the Newport/Wootton area, meaning additional delays, especially at peak times. If you live on the Isle of Wight it is strongly recommended that you avoid driving to the festival site as there will only be a limited number of parking spaces surrounding Seaclose Park. Please arrange a lift, taxi, or walk if you live nearby.

Southern Vectis will be operating special festival shuttle buses above and beyond their normal timetable with additional extra late services. All Festival shuttle buses arrive and depart from the Festival bus station in the Campsite. If you have a non camping Festival Wristband you can still arrive and depart from here. Please see the page we have dedicated to Bus Information or visit the Southern Vectis website for festival-specific travel information:www.islandbuses.info


Speed Limits and No Waiting Restrictions (Racecourse, Fairlee Road)

For safety reasons and to minimise congestion, there will be a temporary 30 mph speed limit and a 24 hour Highway Clearway Order (where no stopping/parking will be permitted on the road, in any lay-bys on the footway or verge). The restrictions will also be in operation from mid-morning on Thursday 9 June to the afternoon of Monday 13 June. A temporary 30mph speed limit will also be in force in Whippingham Road near to East Cowes Road junction (the event entrance for vehicles) to Racecourse Roundabout at the above times.


Festival car parks

The main IOW Festival car park is FREE and the entrance is off East Cowes Road, 300 metres on the East Cowes side of Racecourse roundabout, Whippingham. Event directions will be signposted.

The car park will open at 8am on Thursday 10 June and will then be open between 8am and 12 midnight on each day.

There is limited parking in Newport car parks and on street. Event goers are advised to use the main event car park.


Bike It

Safe and secure bike racks will be provided for people travelling to the event by bike. The cycle racks will be located near to Medina High School just below the parking area by the arboretum.


Speed limits and no waiting restrictions

For safety reasons and to minimise congestion, there will be a temporary 30 mph speed limit and a 24 hour Highway Clearway Order (where no stopping or parking will be permitted on the road, in any lay-bys, on the footway or verge) along the Racecourse/Fairlee Road. This will be in operation between Racecourse Roundabout and the junction with Staplers Road from mid-morning on Thursday 9 June to the afternoon of Monday 13 June. A temporary 30mph speed limit will also be in force in Whippingham Road near to East Cowes Road junction (the event entrance for vehicles) to Racecourse Roundabout at the above times.


Temporary late night road closures (Racecourse, Fairlee Road, Staplers Road)

With pedestrian safety in mind, it is planned to close the A3054 Racecourse and Fairlee Road to vehicular traffic in both directions between Racecourse roundabout and Staplers Road after the event finishes on each night. This closure will affect any motorists who use unofficial car parks in the area.

The road closure should be in operation from approximately:

  • 11.30pm to 1.15am on Friday 10 June (night)/ Saturday 11 June (morning)
  • 11.30pm until 1.15am on Saturday 11 June (night)/ Sunday 12 June (morning)
  • 10.30pm until 12.15am on Sunday 12 June (night)/ Monday 13 June (morning)

These closure times may need to change if circumstances require.

Vehicular access along Fairlee Road (from the entrance to the temporary bus station at the access to North Fairlee Farm) to the junction of Staplers Road will not be possible, except in an emergency, during each road closure. This includes residents living along this section of the road. Access to Island Harbour premises will however be possible during these times.


Seaclose Park

To ensure the health and safety of the public during the staging of the festival at Seaclose Park, the park will be closed from Tuesday 31 May until Monday 20 June.

Parking will not be possible in Seaclose Park Car Parks from 9am Tuesday 31 May until the morning on Thursday 16 June.


Footpath Closure

There will be no pedestrian access along Seaclose Park access road or from The Quay between 4pm on Wednesday 8 until 12pm (noon) on Monday 13 June.

Footpath N120 (from Island Harbour Marina to Seaclose Park access road (adjacent to Seaclose Park) will be closed to pedestrians from 6am Tuesday 31 May until Monday 20 June.

The Cycle track leading off path N120 to Medina High School and footpath N120 (between Jubilee Stores and Seaclose Park access road) will also be closed from 4pm on Wednesday 8 until 12pm (noon) on Monday 13 June.


The Quay and Sea Street area

QUAY STREET: Will be closed from High Street to Sea Street between 5pm on Friday 10 June and the early hours on Monday 13 June to accommodate the main IOW Festival Taxi rank.

SEA STREET: Will be closed between Holyrood Street and Quay Street with access to premises and businesses maintained only to & from the Holyrood Street direction, due to the IOW Festival Taxi rank in Quay Street

From 6pm on each evening during the festival (or earlier if all off road parking is full) Sea Street and Quay Street will be closed to vehicles except in urgent and emergency situations.

Note: Vehicles will be NOT be permitted to leave Sea Street and County Hall car parks after the event on each night until safe to do so, due to the number of pedestrians leaving the event across The Quay into Sea Street. This will be up to an hour after the end of the event.

JUBILEE STORES & NEWPORT HARBOUR: Access along The Quay (from Hillside to Jubilee Stores) and to Quay Arts Centre and the IOW Council offices will not be possible by car or on foot between 5pm on Friday 10 and 6am on Monday 13 June.


Halberry Lane area

HALBERRY LANE ESTATE AREA:- Halberry Lane, Cross Lane, Atkinson Drive, Victoria Road, St Pauls View Road, Gordon Road, Harvey Road, Bellemead Lane, Blackberry Close, Greenfields Road, Cooper Road, Bellecroft Drive, Cook Avenue, Oak Close, Fairmount Drive , Mayfield Drive and Cynthia Grove will be closed to traffic except for residents and deliveries from approximately 9am on Friday 10 until 1pm on Monday 13 June in the interests of road safety. 

During the above times vehicular access will only be possible into the Halberry Lane Estate area from A3054 Fairlee Road into Halberry Lane and from Staplers Road into Cross Lane.

Note: There will not be access for traffic from Fairlee Road into Victoria Road or from Staplers Road into Fairmount Drive or Mayfield Road.


East Cowes, Cowes, Fishbourne and Yarmouth areas

Motorists should be aware that there will be additional traffic delays in the East Cowes, Fishbourne Lane and Yarmouth and Cowes town centre areas during and after the Isle of Wight Festival between the morning of Thursday 9 and mid to late evening on Monday 13 June, due to high level of ferry traffic returning to the mainland.

Dover Road will also be closed in the interests of road safety from Castle Street to the end of the highway (60 metres to the north west). The closure will be in operation when required between 5am on Thursday 9 and approx 8pm on Monday 13 June. Vehicles exiting the ferry will be permitted to leave in a south east direction as normal. The existing taxi rank adjacent to the White Hart Public House will be closed during the closure and a temporary taxi and public drop off / pick up point will be provided in Castle Street (near to Well Road).


Council Services

Isle of Wight Council Seaclose Planning Offices

Isle of Wight Council's Planning offices at Seaclose Park in Newport will be closed from 4pm on Wednesday 8 June until midday on Monday 13 June.

During this period people should travel to the Council Customer Services Centre at County Hall if they have any Planning enquiries. Current planning applications can be viewed at www.iwight.com/planningapps while the offices are closed.


Isle of Wight Council Register Office

Isle of Wight Council's Register Office will temporarily move to County Hall in Newport during the Isle of Wight Festival. Please view press release for further information.


Jubilee Stores

Access to Quay Arts Centre and the IOW Council offices will not be possible by car or on foot between 5pm on Friday 10 and 6am on Monday 13 June.


Medina Leisure Centre

All facilities will be closed to the public at 1.30pm on Thursday 9th June until Sunday 12th June inclusive. On Monday 13th June the leisure centre will re-oen with normal hours.


Cowes Floating Bridge

The chain ferry between Cowes and East Cowes will be operating until 1am on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings of the Festival weekend. This is an extention of its normal timetable which can be viewed here.




Further information

For general highways information:

Isle of Wight Council, tel: (01983) 823777.


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