Following the confusing situation which emerged this week over efforts to engage with the Department for Transport regarding the Island Line and establish a clear picture about the franchise renewal, the Conservative Group on the Isle of Wight Council have called for unity of approach towards solving this important community issue.
Councillor Dave Stewart, Conservative Group Leader, expressed his concerns following the bizarre position where at the recent public meeting in Shanklin the Deputy Leader of the Isle of Wight Council claimed ‘like Neville Chamberlain’ waiving papers in his hand as he announced that the council had secured agreement with the Department for Transport over Island Line inclusion in the franchise bidding process, only to have this statement contradicted by the Department for Transport the very next day.
Cllr Stewart said:
“This whole episode is calling into question the competence of and confidence in the IW council playing its part in addressing this matter. Why are we not getting all the key parties around the table to share the facts and agree our Island strategy so that the Government are presented with a clear unified approach. Surely this is the proper way to do business with them and if I were the Government I would be concerned about the mixed messages being received from the Island.
“For my part I have agreed to ensure the whole Infrastructure issue is now subject to scrutiny and this will include exploring the Island Line events with the local councillors whose wards are directly on the line – making recommendations to the Executive in due course. But because of the timescales involved decisions and direction are needed now and so I shall also raise my concerns with the Council Leader when I meet with him on Monday.
“Once again there has been alot of talk about working together but when it comes to it that is not what happens. We have a Conservative Government and a Conservative MP recently re elected to represent the Island – so our local council must engage with him to find a solution before we find ourselves losing out over the future of the Island line”.
