Traffic regulation orders

The Isle of Wight Council as a Local Highway Authority has a duty to ensure the efficient and safe movement of people, services and goods on the island's highways. To meet these duties Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are issued.

TROs are legal documents. The purpose of the TRO is regulating the use of parts of the highway by vehicular traffic or pedestrians. It allows the local, Highway or Police Authority to enforce restrictions on the highway. 

Examples of TROs include:

• speed limits
• weight restrictions
• one-way streets
• no right or left turns
• parking restrictions
• residents parking schemes

• Permanent - These types of orders can only be introduced following a statutory legal process. There are several stages to the introduction of a permanent TRO. Once an order is made, it remains in force until superseded or revoked.
• Experimental - These orders are used to see if a proposed restriction will work in practice, before confirming it to as permanent. Experimental orders are valid for up to 18 months.
• Temporary - Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTRO). These can be introduced to impose temporary restrictions or road closure on the Highway. They help to facilitate works on or near a road, cleansing operations or to safely facilitate events on the Highway. A temporary order can be in force for up to 18 months.
• Emergency - These orders are used to cover emergency works. For example a burst pipe, sewer collapse, wall fallen on the Highway. An emergency order can be made for up to 21 days.

Requests for new restrictions on the highway are submitted daily to the Island Roads. Requests are made by Island residents, businesses and town councils. The Highways Service Provider for the Isle of Wight is Island Roads. All requests are assessed by highways engineers. They check the road safety. Then the Council prioritises the qualifying requests for funding.

If you want to make a request you will need to:

• provide your request in writing, email info@islandroads.com
• please include details of the location
• please provide a reason why you feel that new restriction is needed

Or you can post your written request to: Island Roads, St. Christopher House, Daish Way, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5XJ.

Island Roads are responsible for administering the requests for new restrictions. They will carry out assessments and if a safety issue is found, they will issue proposals. All qualifying proposals will be considered by the Isle of Wight Council.

High Street, Newport new layout and related TRO proposal

The proposed new traffic regulations form part of the first phase of a People First Zone project, which aims to improve the pedestrian environment, making Newport’s High Street a more pleasant place to shop and spend time.

The project also forms part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ), regenerating Newport’s historic high street, with funding from Historic England, Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council and Isle of Wight Council.

The HAZ team is working in partnership with Southern Water to introduce new sustainable drainage systems into the street where possible. This is being designed to reduce combined sewer overflows into Island waterways.

This consultation is live from 14 April to 12 May 2023.