The final panellists have now been confirmed for next month’s State of the Island Debate 2026 – Travel & Tourism Special, with ferry services, roads and the Isle of Wight economy set to dominate one of the year’s biggest public discussions.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, will take her place on the panel to address cross‑Solent travel and the pressures currently facing ferry operators and the wider Island economy.
Simon Moon, the Isle of Wight Council’s Strategic Director of Community Services, is also confirmed to be taking part in the debate, in what will be his first public event since taking up the role in April. Simon will speak on highways, road maintenance and the challenges of keeping the Island moving.
Also confirmed for 12th June is Councillor Jonathan Bacon, who was elected as the new Leader of the Isle of Wight Council on Wednesday evening. This will give Islanders the chance to hear directly from the new administration.
They join previously announced panellists Joe Robertson MP (Isle of Wight East), Richard Quigley MP (Isle of Wight West) and Visit Isle of Wight’s new CEO, Dominic Wray – making a top-tier line-up of 6 prominent and influential leaders.
The debate will once again be chaired by Marc Morgan‑Huws, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway – one of the Island’s largest tourism attractions.
The event, which will take place at All Saints’ Church, Ryde on Friday 12th June, is a rare opportunity for the Isle of Wight community to quiz local leaders, with cross‑Solent travel, roads, tourism, and the wider economy all expected to prompt lively discussion.
The evening will get underway at 19:00 (doors 18:00), with the first half of the evening dedicated to pre‑selected questions submitted by readers of Island Echo and the Isle of Wight Observer. Readers are invited to send suggestions to [email protected] or call 01983 898288 during office hours.
Questions from the live audience will follow in the second half of the debate. The evening will be live streamed to Facebook.
A voluntary collection will be held on the night for Daisy Ring Bus, the volunteer‑run transport service helping Island cancer patients reach mainland hospitals safely and with kindness.
Carole Dennett, Editor of the Isle of Wight Observer, said:
“This year’s panel brings together people who can genuinely influence the Island’s future. Islanders want answers on ferries, roads and tourism, and this debate gives them a rare chance to put those questions directly to those with influence.”
Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher of Island Echo, added:
“We’ve worked hard to make sure the panel reflects the issues people talk to us about every day. It’s going to be a lively, constructive evening – and we want as many Islanders as possible to be part of it.”
The debate will kick start Indie News Week (15th–21st June), the national celebration of independent journalism, community reporting and public accountability.
Tickets are FREE and available on a first‑come, first‑served basis at www.iw.observer/state-of-the-island.
What will this twaddle achieve!
Council tax goes up every year and ferry fares go up
every year or when they want to increase them. Eg for
large events such as the Festival.
Waste of time
I see Highways does that include Island Roads?they need to be dragged before Island community and explain why they think they know Island Roads from France!
Oh dear, just another talikng shop that will produce diddly squat!
How about inviting a representative from The Solent Freedom Tunnel campaign – now that would be an “INCLUSIVE” debate, as long as they were listened to and weren’t shouted down!
Why do we need a “debate” nothing will happen or change. The island is finished as a tourist destination, thanks to all who are attending, the council, the ferry companies, I wonder if Porkies Bacon will resign before this happens.
What numpty would go to Sandown with all
the crime that takes place thesedays.
So, reading most of the panels agendas, it is nothing more than an exercise in talking down to the plebs.
When will they understand that they have their deals, their licenses, their agreements in order to provide a service! The ferries are abysmally unreliable, despite agreements to provide reliable services to and from the Island.
Island roads got a juicy PFI to improve and maintain our roads, not disrupt every single journey we have made from Ventnor since November 2025, and even today we have up to 15 minutes wait to get from lake to anywhere past the airport. Our ‘tourism’ chiefs have every excuse available, and will offer nothing that we don’t already know!
We do not need more excuses, more ‘explanations’, more Bull, we need, or DEMAND an end to the plunder of our scant finances, and a START to rebuilding our home, and the ability to entertain tourists and locals alike. So rather than starting with ‘oh woe is me’ start sorting it out. Ferries could train and employ multi skilled staff who can step up when needed, the council could stop offering £110000+ salaries for ‘education’ or £130000 for running a broken organisation and get rid of the dead wood and promote our towns, enable shops to afford to open and help the Isle of Wight, not hinder. Our tourism bosses should accept that until the ferries offer reliability and value for money, and we have more than 2 or 3 attractions to entice families, their work is a cost we cannot recoup.
I can hear the panel rustling their papers and explaining in simple terms why this is a ridiculous post, but just for a change, get your act together!
They can use this to help hold the ferry companies to account compared to their OFT undertakings when last investigated IOW Ferry Performance & Compliance Dashboard (2026 Transparency Audit)
They can use this to help hold the ferry companies to account, comparing results against undertakings to the OFT when last investigated: IOW Ferry Performance & Compliance Dashboard (2026 Transparency Audit)
How about “FORCING” Ferry Companies to
refund customers for their POOR service!
Here’s a start – Which magazine only listed 2 of our beaches in the best beach guide last year Ventnor and Shanklin – look at the best, work out what’s missing, develop an action plan with SMART targets – simples.
https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/uk-destinations/article/uks-best-seaside-towns-alhlx7E2uw1a
What a load of nonsense… They want to discuss the Islands future.. Get rid of the useless ferries and build a tunnel.This will bring more tourism, more jobs to the Island.. Imagine, no cancelled ferries… No breakdowns… no time schedule, 24/7 access to all..But the answer will always be NO, Because the council are earning money from ferries.. I wonder how many have shares??
If a tunnel or bridge was built this island would be rammed
with tourists and more businesses would be opening up
rather than closing down.