A proposed new Floating Bridge charge for Under 19s as part of the Isle of Wight Council’s budget plans would hit those who have the least, a local councillor has said.
East Cowes representative Karl Love cited alternatives to the savings proposal, introduced without ‘any consultation whatsoever’, such as offering improved marketing on the chain ferry to raise income and upgrading its ticketing system.
Introducing the charge outside school travel hours would bring in an extra £5,000 for 2026/7, according to a policy, finance and resources committee report.
It would amount to 60p for a casual single, £1 for a casual return and 30p with a saver card.
Cllr Love said the policy would impose costs on participating in extracurricular activities such as sailing or scout groups:
“Nobody has spoken to me or the other ward councillors or the town councils about this,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“This has been introduced without any consultation into that document whatsoever and there’s been no discussion with any of the appropriate committees such as education.
“That’s a discrimination because no other pupils anywhere on the Island will have to pay to go and do additional activities such as being in the scouts…or to go to UKSA. That is divisive of our community.”
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He said the measure would impact those who have least money in their pockets and described the proposed budget as “devastating”.
Cllr Love said he put forward alternative revenue raising ideas such as improved marketing on the Floating Bridge – citing when a Red Funnel ship was painted in IKEA colours, upselling opportunities including ‘hats, badges, whistles’ and upgrading the outdated ticketing system.
He added:
“There are other solutions to raising money to offset this particular action…but I haven’t been given the opportunity to represent those interests”.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has said:
“No final decisions have been made. The budget proposals will be considered by the council’s policy, finance and resources committee on Friday, 20th February and full council on Wednesday, 25th February.”
You can only push the boundaries on what people can pay for so long and that limit has already been reached in many quarters, we have council tax at just under 2500 for an average band D property or nearly 50 pounds a week, when the mean average salary on the island is less than 30K or 400 per week after taxes when will the council decide that they cannot continue to just spend and then tax to make up the shortfall.
No reason to up the fares. This won’t help the council and doesnt pay for other stupid things the council pays for like 2 diversity people for 100k a year. If they need money they need to look internal not to the people
Too be honest why shouldn’t they pay.
When I left school at 15 years of age. I got a job
and started paying my way in life.
Things wasn’t always easy, but that’s life.
Too be honest a £1 is such a minimal charge.
How many of these persons can afford cigarettes or
vapes!
You have your answer.
Pay or don’t use the service.
What service?
True.
What utter fucking bastards..
Remind me not to breathe too hard, might taxed for extra oxygen consumption.
Not to worry, the floating bridge doesn’t work often enough to make it worthwhile.
Get ready for the fart tax, it’s coming.
Oh my god, you understand how businesses work do you? Why would anyone business need to discuss their pricing structure with Karl Love, or anyone else? I’ve got an idea. How about, if you’re going to uksa ~ a sailing school ~ get in a boat and row across, directly to the berth.
Jeeesuuusss! There’s always someone whining about this poxy ferry.
It’s not free!
It’s a business.
You have the right to use it, or not.
Stop moaning, or provide something better if you don’t like it. Why do people think they decide how someone else’s business runs?
you seem rather confused !!
Perhaps you should try actually readign the article before spouting your verbal diarrhoea.
the Floating Bridge is NOT a business!!
It’s a service, provide by, and run by the Isle of Wight Council
as a Councillor (for East Cowes,… one of the towns serverd by the floating bridge) Karl Love has an absolute right to be involved!
Wevs. So bored of the endless whining. It’s still supposed to show a profit, or do you think everything should be free, like
Er…
Nope, can’t think of anywhere really. I know certain toiletries are free in Kuwait but not everything.
Just build a foot bridge across one that boats can pass under or is it the money your after you greedy useless lot
Most sensible comment on here, but they cannot repair
potholes on the island, yet alone a bridge,
so a bridge is out of the question.