Talks on the future of cross-Solent transport are underway amid calls for special Isle of Wight resident rates and a minimum service agreement.
Discussions, which begin today, will include the Isle of Wight’s MPs, ferry firms, the NHS, the Isle of Wight Council, Visit Isle of Wight and Solent Transport User Group’s (STUG).
The commencement of talks comes just weeks after Conservative MP Joe Robertson’s statement to the House of Commons, which said regulating Isle of Wight ferries is the ‘absolute minimum’.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham previously pledged to seriously consider regulation and urged Mr Robertson to bring him a proposal.
Mark Rogers, a member of Solent Transport User Group’s (STUG) committee has this week referred to “some solutions that might be acceptable to all parties” and said there would be a conclusion some time in April next year.
Bronwyn Hamilton-Brown, another STUG representative, yesterday (Thursday) shared a statement from the group which said it is the “only grassroots organisation” representing the Island.
It included several wishes such as a minimum service agreement addressing the essential need for a lifeline service, the eradication of dynamic pricing, and preferential rates for Islanders and their families, with price caps in line with train fare increases.
As we well know fuck all will come it waste of time needs to come down a hundred pounds or more..but obviously it won’t.
If Redlink are required to cut fares for locals, they will simply add the cost to mainland bookings to maintain their profits.
That will not only add costs to essential deliveries to the Island, but make holidays here even less competitive.
We will still have to pay, one way or another.
Hence a bridge or tunnel then deliveries will get here
quicker and much cheaper and goods and services
can come down in price.
Yes a much easier and cheaper alternative will bring all the traffic, crime and illegal immigrant evils of the mainland much more readily to the island. Obviously one to look forward to.
Whilst you are gleefully saving a few bob others will pay the price in crime and safety levels. Or haven’t you been paying attention?
Open your eyes, crime and migrants are already here.
So? You want even more? …….and add the crime, filth & squalor brought by the “travellers”
No thanks.
Please explain to us all where the billions will come from ? And which company would fund it build it?
Fixed link being resurrected again? Never.
Any benefits are short term (even if there are any). Longer term, it’ll be a disaster and will ruin the Island as we know it.
Do you really want the IoW to become an extension of urban sprawl from the mainland?
(let alone decimation of the red squirrel population)
of course you will pay more – if the state has to use taxpayer money to support the ferries regarding minimum services and fare caps, then they will introduce an islander ferry tax to cover the cost, which will be added to your council tax bill
Exactly, was thinking same thing.
Great idea if something comes of it, more than
likely just a load of talk.
bronwyn needs to get a life. The ferry companies are private enterprises and as such can charge what they like. If the state tries to intervene, it will be required to spend taxpayers money supporting the ferries directly. If not, then the ferry companies just cut services, stating that they cant afford to run them because bronwyn and the other ill advised indviduals wanted fare caps
And will they look at how they rip visitors off coming over here too.
Example the festival goers at extortionate prices.
If I may say, would it make sense to hand all the furry company bay to the government and then hopefully get a proper support and service and the cost of the furry would go down very much., I can’t believe it’s £511 to drive a small car with 4 people within it., the cost of the furrys who runs the Red Furry or Wight Furrys they are far to expensive to get over here, so let’s get the government back to run the furry industry instead, it very well may be the cheaper and cost-effective for all of us who live and work on the lovely Isle Wight of ours., so come together and vote for this to happen, stand together my fellow citizens and friends of the Isle Of Wight., from James, Earl of Kensington
I think there was cheaper concessionary fares for IW residents years ago why was it stopped a tunnel or bridge would destroy life on the Island as we know it