Airport Parking Changes Delayed

Controversial changes to parking at Ronaldsway will not go ahead on May 1 as planned.

The DoI wanted to cut free parking to 15 minutes and introduce a seasonal parking permit to replace long stay parking, essentially as a cash grab to recoup some of Ronaldsway’s losses.

Replying to questions from Jason Moorhouse and DoI member Tim Glover in Tynwald this morning, Minister Chris Thomas said that the plans had been put on hold.

He said: ‘People won’t be paying more from May 1, the statutory notice period took place for 14 days as required by law, the 1985 legislation, and it’s been decided to come back with a second, amended, parking order which will again be subject to the statutory notice period and the public can expect to be asked about that coming into force on June 13, the Tuesday after TT.’

While it isn’t know exactly what will be in that amended order, Mr Thomas heavily hinted towards a 30 minute free parking limit introduced, with longer stays allowed for disabled parking, but didn’t specifically say these would be introduced, instead saying the DoI is a ‘listening department’.

Turning to the matter of the seasonal parking replacing long-term parking, Mr Thomas said this proved popular with people who responded to the first consultation.

As with the last consultation, this won’t be an online consultation, instead details will published in a page at the back of a Courier.

Following this, Mr Thomas said: ‘The order will either be made, or won’t be made, as in this case.’