Island MP Bob Seely says he is to create a policy on cross-Solent travel for the Isle of Wight Council following the most recent bout of disruption. As previously reported by Island Echo, customers using the Wightlink vehicle ferry service between Fishbourne and Portsmouth were left stranded on either side of the Solent on Saturday night following the announcement that the service had been halted until the following morning due to a ‘technical issue’. The news left customers – especially those attempting to head back to the Island – having to fork out to spend a night in a hotel in the waterfront city and, although compensation is offered to those who have seen their sailings cancelled, such recompense doesn’t include hotel fees. Many Islanders took to social media to express their concerns, with Island Echo’s original article over the weekend receiving over 300 comments as locals discussed the state of cross-Solent travel. A petition to appoint a regulator for Isle of Wight ferries has been gaining traction on social media with more than 5,700 signatures to date. Speaking this week, Bob Seely has said:
“When Wightlink fail to run the last service of the day, it’s not good enough to ask Islanders to pay out of their own pocket for a hotel. I am sorry to hear that these Island families have been put out like this. “I will be letting Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries know how angry I am that they have let people down.”
Mr Seely has said he is going to create a statement of intent regarding ferry travel on the Isle of Wight to put forward to the Isle of Wight Council – the transport authority. The draft motion will be available to Islanders in the next 3 weeks, before Bob is to present it – having made any amendments – to local councillors.
Too little too late,youve had five years to do this,but hold on,its election year,the sooner you are gone the better,you have done nothing for the island except break lockdown rules and “welcome” stuff that you try to take credit for,but have had nothing to do with.
you really are abhorrent!
What he comes out with when am election id around the corner and he knows that he won’t win
If he got re elected he do the same like you say he’s had 5 years and done nothing with ferries plus a lot of people asked him about the ferries and got no response
year
All this should of been done years ago Bob. To little too late.
Aren’t politicians amazing.
Don’t here a peep from them for years but with an election imminent and their job at risk they find a voice.
If company is going to be required to offer hotels for anyone strangled, then they’ll cut down last hours of sailings and finish early so that in a case of failure they have bigger margin of time to fix the potential issue and not pay for the hotel.
Be careful what you ask for.
What you should ask for instead is a true public transport, not this privatised joke.
if company is going to be required to offer hotels for anyone strangled,
really john – probably a matter for the police, don’t you think
Thank goodness for spellcheck
Most of the ferry passengers slept in there cars
#anyonebutseely.
Election looming, is there?
Jesus help us, half sausage telling chocolate teapots what to do
A new ‘Policy’ won’t work for this situation. There needs to be a complete and new transport contract covering all links to the Island for pricing, timetables and adequate measures and compensation in place when services fail.
High fines for not meeting yearly availability targets, Fines for not having a replacement service in place within a specific timescale and cash compensation for passengers left stranded on one side or the other with loss of income or transport connections. This is the only way that these services will learn to look after their customers or indeed to actually maintain their vessels correctly instead of trying to do it all on a shoestring. As customers we are constantly lied to.
unfortunately for you graham, the local council cannot impose such contracts on a ferry provider, where similar conditions are not applied to ferry providers nationally.
also – who pays the fines – the customers do via higher ticket prices.
fines for availability targets would see weather related exemptions and then a figure built in for unavoidable issues – not one penny would ever be paid.
and to avoid having to pay anything, timetables will be structured to avoid all such possibilities. If the council/government demanded certain levels of service, then the government/council would need to pay the fines for non performance, where the ferry provider told them we cant do that consistently.
Bob says he’s going to give Wightlink a strong talking to…
Not even that – he’s considering sending a strongly worded letter. And not even to the ferry companies.
If Sweden and The Netherlands are capable of building bridges that can cover larger distances than between the Island and Mainland, and take account of commercial shipping as well then it is also feasible in UK. In the Netherlands a toll was paid over a period of 30 years to repay the costs of the bridge and now it is toll free (The ZEELAND Bridge). A crossing to IOW with a car is already more expensive than the channel tunnel in many respects, and the passenger fares much higher than the €6 charged between Vlissingen and Breskens in NL.
no county on the mainland wants the on/off ramp or tunnel to the island in their back yard – environmental destruction aside.
HS2 was last costed at £396 million per mile – an utter disaster of comical mismanagement.
The silvertown tunnel in london under the thames which is planned to open in 2025 and is about a mile long is expected to finally cost £1.2billion to build and a further £1 billion to manage/maintain over a 25 year period. Any tunnel to the island will be at least 5 miles long and hideously expensive based on what we have seen in tunnel costs in the uk so far.
lets assume £1.2 billion x 5 miles = £6 billion build cost – then about £5 billion over 25 years.-needs £440 million a year payback. Not a chance.
If it stops the island from becoming a wasteland full of just poverty and crime, then 6 billion is a small price to pay. We give more to the oil industry as tax cats than that. Maybe instead of funnelling our nations weather offshore into the MP’s hidden bank accounts the government should be spending the money on the people.
it stops the island from becoming a wasteland full of just poverty and crime,
the island has managed ok for hundreds of years – so no, it won’t become a wasteland
Why are so many on here moaning about island being a wasteland full of poverty and crime now then? You obviously live in the better part of the island and it doesn’t happen in you back yard!
Look at the crime rate, already becoming one where we take all sorts in because no one else will when there are plenty of uninhabited islands around the UK
We have QE Bridge, the Huber Bridge, the Tamar Bridge and the Forth bridges, so the technology is there just a question of funding
No-one wants a bridge Graham. Move away if the island doesn’t suit you.
POP UP BOB – You have been the island MP for 6 years and suddenly months before an election (where let’s be honest, you are going to lose you job and be kicked off the gravy train), you decide to try and sort out the ferries due to WL’s bad publicity over the weekend. WHAT A JOKE! Far too late!
People have been complaining for years ref the ferries and can see straight through you. This is just you trying to create positive soundbites for yourself.
Why create a policy for the council? They don’t run sh!telink. It’s run by a greedy bunch of shysters. How about fining them instead, for lack of service provision and breach of contract?
Seely may be saying that just for electioneering purposes, for all I know, but it’s still music to my ears! I once had a soul-destroying night looking for an affordable hotel room at Portsmouth when the last ferry home didn’t materialise.
Music to your ears? Are you Bob Seely?
Too little to late Seldom, getting near an election perhaps … you’ve been protecting these companies and Now your angry
About time something is done.
If Ferry operators let customers down they should arrange for
their customers to stay in mainland Hotels at their expense,
better still don’t cancel Ferries.
Good luck with that then .
How about working with an investment company to restart the tunnel from Lymington to Yarmouth. This was first bored after WW1. The IOW ferry companies are the most expensive per mile in the entire World. They are destroying the economy(tourism) to the IOW. Bob Seeley
Pop up Bob must be worried about his seat at the next general election. He has finally got his finger out and is taking issue with the ferry company’s. This is sooooooo long overdue that its a joke. 20 years for the sub post masters to get justice so I suppose we should not be surprised. We need a regulator BUT not in name only. It must have real power to fine company’s for non operation as per bus and rail regulators.
Bob couldn’t organise the proverbial in a brewery, let alone create a policy regarding the IOW ferries.
BOB – You have been the island MP for 6 years and suddenly months before an election (where let’s be honest, you are going to lose you job and be kicked off the gravy train), you decide to try and sort out the ferries due to WL’s bad publicity over the weekend. WHAT A JOKE! Far too late!
People have been complaining for years ref the ferries and can see straight through you. This is just you trying to create positive soundbites for yourself.
Oh well done pop-up-bob, I am sure Wightlink will be trembling in their boots that you are going to tell them how angry you are! Your statement of intent is just another pre-election gesture and unless the government bring the ferry companies to heel with regulation, there is little you, your statement of intent or the Isle of Wight Council can do!
Nice words but nothing will come of it, both ferry companys are an absolute discrace and should be ashamed of themselves running such a shit service a very expensive service i’d be embarrassed if my company operated like this.NO pride and NO morals..why no hotel accomdation? it’s there fault they took the money to offer transportation..a contract money exchanged for a service…
So now he’s going to waste time creating a policy, not for the government, or even the ferry operators, but for the Island’s council???
What is the point of a policy for IWCC when they have no power whatsoever over the running of the ferries and have, in fact, asked for help from central government on many occasions to no avail.
A policy for IWCC will not force the ferry companies to run reliable services. It will not result in fares that are reasonable or affordable.
It is simply a pointless PR stunt that will achieve nothing beyond wasting money, annoying islanders and reinforcing our belief that our elected representative cannot improve the situation.
If a flight is delayed then you receive compensation after three hour.
There should be no difference regarding ferries.
If wightlink decide to cancel a ferry that means passengers are stranded on the island or in Portsmouth through no fault of their own then the company has a moral as well as a financial obligation to provide accommodation.
They should have contacts with local hotels who will assist in such an emergency.
they don’t have to – if the midnight boat is cancelled – the delay is either 3 or 5 hours, not technically overnight – you are entitled to refreshments, where it is able to be provided, in otherwords, no guarantees and the option of being rerouted – which would not be before 5am or refunded, however, you are still sat at the terminal.
Just in time for the election. Deluded bob strikes again
Bob Seely is obviously getting slightly concerned his safe seat might not be safe anymore. Whilst Islanders keep voting for joke politicians like him, they will continue to enjoy record fare rises and rubbish serviced. A public service or a tough regulator are required. Neither of which honest Bob wants to see.
Oh Bob, please come out of your little dream world. You’ve had years to sort this problem out. Wightlink nor red funnel listened to you years ago and they won’t listen to you now. All this time these companies have shareholders that need paying and have no obligation to run any service. That will never change. Find the money for a feasibility study and see if a tunnel is viable. If it is viable I’ve have no doubt investment will follow.
P.s you’d never guess there’s an election this year.
It is not only Wightlink. Red Funnel do the same. My husband has had to stay over on the mainland 3 times in a year, due to cancellation of ferries, only one of those have been caused by very bad weather. Most of Red Funnels issues in relation to delays or cancellations are due to to staffing or technical issues.
They need to invest in there transport before investing in posh terminals, priorities all wrong if you ask me
Pointless exercise. The local authority have no powers to influence a private company and Bob knows this. No doubt in a few weeks/months time he will criticise the Council for not fulfilling his demands, trying to make himself look good, when he and his party have no idea.
I wonder why he’s taken this long?! What about the years of Red Funnel chaos?! Wouldn’t be an election coming up would there?
Simples. Give every ticket purchase an option of a higher grade of ticket that includes travel insurance to cover delays and/or overnight accommodation if necessary. If you pay, you can claim it back, if you choose to be a cheapskate, you take your chances. Next.
It needs a fixed link!
You start digging and let us know when you are finished.
I disagree. Nobody wants to get to the IoW any faster than they need to. Although I’d suggest that leaving the IoW as quickly as possible can only be a positive.
Don’t live on the island then!
Oh do shut up!! That’s seems to be the retoric gif every person that criticises the island!! People are allowed to have opinions! And want better services too! Just because you don’t go anywhere or have a life you can’t think we’re all the same! What about poor cancer and other patients stranded? You obviously don’t think further than the end of your incredibly stuck up nose!
It’s disgusting how ferry companies get away with this awful service and treatment of the very audience that butter their bread
That’s so typical of you, Drew. This is a serious issue and all you can write is, “Don’t live on an island.”
@chrispeacock I think your bro is correct. Why live on an island and whinge about the ferries? That’s like going to a strip club and complain about the nudity.
Most probably a Tory Scum.
@Proud Ovener. You are so right. We should house all the illegal immigrants on the island. The property is cheap because no-one wants to live there.
@Drew Peacock. As an immigrant myself, I take great exception to the notion that I should be housed on the IoW. The place is full of whingers.
Touch Knob.
Wow ! Too little too late Bob should’ve been sorting this before eating half the sausage! .
@Drew Peacock. “The property is cheap because no-one wants to live there ” Actually I want to live here, away from the hustle and bustle.
Please don’t.
Chris Peacock “Actually I want to live here, away from the hustle and bustle.” Why then do you insist on getting a car ferry to the mainland every day, and complaining about the service?
Some people have jobs you plonker! The daily commute to work in hospitals and other places is huge, but you wouldn’t know that because you’re an armchair warrior! What do you contribute to this island I wonder
The initiative will need to come from Islanders themselves, that’s the only way it will happen. Politicians and Councillors will not solve it.
Seeley pops up again. Not long now and we won’t have to hear or see it ever again. The people are going to evict it.
He won’t do bugger all, like usual, anyone still voting for these morons needs shooting
Things will never change when hot air bob has a faimily member involved with ferry!
This is just another poor effort too pop up for voters before the election.your gone me old sausage
Island ferry policy should include an end to rip-off fares.
If he was serious he would have introduced a private members Bill in Parliament to have a regulator of domestic ferry provision. If he couldn’t be high enough in the private bill ballot he could at least introduce an Early Day Motion to highlight the issue. There are other MPs who are in coastal communities who might support this.
He knows the council has no powers to regulate ferries. This is buck passing.
In Scotland, it costs £20 for a 40 minute ferry trip for a motorhome, a car is £10! If they can do it, so can we.
Fred they have a better government up there
The ferry companies do what they like .
Always have, always will.
What a pointless exercise does he really think that Red Funnel or Wightlink will take any notice,
Or maybe it could be that there is an election looming and I may get another photo shoot!
John BINGO !! yes electioneering
Mr Seely angry!!! Wightlink will be shaking in their boots.
He will stomp his feet .. then it’s serious ..
I wonder what the amendments will be Obviously the ones that will please the Ferry Companies and not Island Residents.
I think it’s time Mr Greenfield was challenged to answef these comments. It’s hus management team that’s causing the oroblems. Bob is just a side issue. He has not caused the problems, neither will he solve them. Only Greenfield and his pathetic team of troublemakers can do that. Unfortunately, it seems they are starting to enjoy it