A newspaper article came out this week detailing the beauty of rights of way in the Islands but it was less than complimentary on the increase in traffic that has been noticed over the past few years.

Martin Hesp, columnist in the Western Morning News, talks about Scilly’s outstanding natural beauty and serenity which makes it an ideal place to explore all day long. However, concluding his series of articles this Friday, he opens the piece by commenting on how the traffic on the Islands seems to grow more extensive each year.

He says “(The A3112) like all main roads is becoming busier each year”. He goes on to compare his experiences to that of a friend who visited several years ago who remembers almost desolate roads used exclusively by pedestrians. He later joked “I haven’t seen a tailback yet though”.

Traffic is becoming a problem on the Islands though; one of the major police concerns in the Islands is dangerous driving on the often narrow roads. Another factor is that vehicles on the Islands only need an MOT to get to the Islands, it is not needed once they are here which leads to many vehicles that would be classified un-roadworthy elsewhere.

The off-Islands have also seen a large increase in vehicle use, St. Agnes recently recorded its first RTA involving two land rovers, one of which ended up on its roof; neither occupants were harmed in the incident.

In the end, many vehicles are needed for agricultural and transport needs, visitors seem to forget that The Islands have to remain a functional community. The problem arises with needless journeys with needless and un-roadworthy motor vehicles. The police and the Council will be looking into the problem.