Roads & Sundays.

Jacqui · Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 38 Location: Calbourne

Can anyone tell me what the traffic is like on the island? I realise it'll be busier in the summer months, but generally. Also, is there Sunday trading like the mainland. I've been in France for a while now and I'm use to no shops on Sundays...which hasn't been a hardship by any stretch, quite the opposite.
Cheers.

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Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 316 Location: Carisbrooke

Yes commercialism hasn't missed the Island, Sundays are just another day of the week, except the shops open at 10am and close at 4pm. How I miss not being able to buy stuff on a Sunday.

There's roughly, according to the 2001 census, 168000 cars on the Island. Plus fleet vehicles owned by haulage companies and public transport. This obviously also increases during the summer months.

Sounds scary eh? Actually although we locals hate the delays we do have they are very minor inconveniences compared to the Mainland.
It's also a different style of driving here compared to the Mainland. Driving anywhere is rarely a joy anymore but has become a necessity. Driving here on the Island is a lot more laid back than the rush, rush and stress of the Mainland.

Why are you leaving France? I drove down to Petit Roche in the Loire Valley a few years ago, and in the 4 hour drive only saw 15 other cars.
Where does France hide all their traffic?

Jacqui · Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 38 Location: Calbourne

Not leaving France just yet and yes we'll miss it very much..no traffic, no Sunday shopping, feeling of space, friendly neighbours....obviously we'd be hoping to meet friendly neighbours on the IoW!! There are as many cars in France but it's just that the country is two and a half times the size of the UK, so you get a feeling of space. Various reasons for leaving France, but looking at the IoW as we always wanted to live by the sea and have always liked the island. As you said there's less hustle and bustle and more laid back than the mainland.
Do you go to the mainland often for shopping etc or rely on the island shops? Is it expensive going to and from the mainland? What would you say are the more negative points of island life?
Hope you don't mind us asking so many questions, but it's a big step for us. We are coming over for a week in November to look for housing.
Thanks in anticipation to your reply!
Cheers
Jacqui.

Freddie · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 34

Jacqui,
In the eighties I spent a year in Valenciennes as Head of Engineering Inspection. A French company were building an off shore rig for a big oil company and I was working for the client.
I loved it there. Long lunch hours, leisurely life style, fabulous people. Could get back to London, if necessary, in four hours.
One of the most noticeable traits of the French people was their cohesiveness, something that you don't get here.
Even allowing for the "collaboratuers" in '39-'45, the average French person basically won't put up with the garbage that the average English person does.
That said, the island is still probably one of the best places to live in the UK.
Shops are there in Southampton or Portsmouth. It's not expensive going back and forth, unless you do it every day, in which case you shouldn't be here.
The only negative point is that "this is the island'. It's a bit like Spains "manana" attitude. If you can live with that, you're laughing, but I would urge caution if you are a "must have it now" person. Good luck.

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 316 Location: Carisbrooke

The Island has become just an extension of the Mainland over the last few years. When I was a kid I used to look forward to going there because the shops had stuff you couldn't buy off the shelf here. Now we're getting overloaded with national chains and they're putting local shops out of business.
The local authority allow them to setup here because of the promise of employment opportunities that we lack due to the downfall of manufacturing in this country. So shopping on the Mainland isn't necessary anymore.

Like everywhere else it has it's downside, but I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Jacqui · Joined: 11 Oct 2009 Posts: 38 Location: Calbourne

Thanks for the comments, yes we can put up with the 'manyana' way, been doing it for a couple of years here in France. We're looking forward to having a shifty next month.
Once again, thanks.
Cheers
Jacqui.