The case for a Fixed Link tunnel between the Isle of Wight and the mainland will be presented to the Isle of Wight Council on Monday (4th September).
All members of Council are being invited to attend what is being described as an informal meeting, where PRO-LINK will deliver a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute question and answer session. The aim of the meeting is to establish official support for a feasibility study to be carried out.
The same time frame will be offered to other groups with alternate views to PRO-LINK so that the Full Council is informed of the variety of possible options currently in discussion.
Monday’s upcoming meeting follows several major influential bodies submitting written submissions of support for a Solent Fixed Link Feasibility Study. These include David Thornton of Visit Isle of Wight; the Island’s former MP Andrew Turner plus the Isle of Wight Transport Infrastructure Taskforce.
Carl Feeney of PRO-LINK has said:
“It has taken PRO-LINK nearly 3 years in which to achieve support for a Fixed Link Feasibility Study by the relevant authorities. We have visited the mainland authorities to check whether they support studies into the Able Connections Freedom Tunnel scheme. It has been confirmed they do.
“Once the Isle of Wight Council have been presented to, hopefully it will be a quick process of achieving their written support to confirm the recommendations of the Transport Infrastructure Taskforce. The process thereafter will be to secure the funding for the studies and then build, on condition that the studies favour a Link. The funding will not be at the Isle of Wight Council’s expense”.
