Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson received applause aplenty after describing ferry pricing as bordering ‘on the immoral’ and calling for greater regulation of cross-Solent ferry services.
Red Funnel Chief Executive Fran Collins defended her company’s pricing structure and service levels as audience members and politicians voiced concerns over ferry costs and reliability at the State of the Island Travel and Tourism debate last Friday (12th June).
Wightlink, the Island’s other main cross-Solent operator, was not represented on the panel – but was offered the opportunity to sit on the panel.
Ms Collins began on a positive note, arguing that the Island was well placed to benefit from growing demand for domestic tourism as overseas travel became more expensive and complicated.
She said demand for UK holidays had increased by around 30% and claimed visits to the Isle of Wight had returned to 2019 levels. She said:
“The more people we can get over, the more money comes to the Island.”
Former Isle of Wight councillor Debbie Andre challenged the Red Funnel boss over ferry fares, calling for a sensible flat-rate pricing structure that would not isolate or discriminate against Islanders.
Ms Collins acknowledged that dynamic pricing was unpopular but defended the system.
“The average price for a return crossing for an Island resident is £75.66 and £69.80 with a Big Book of Savings. The day-trip rate is £54 return. Dynamic pricing allows us to discount, otherwise the flat rate would be far higher”.
Asked about reports of a passenger being quoted £511 for a ferry crossing by Wightlink, Ms Collins said:
“The number of residents charged an amount greater than £300 was just 0.003%. Those charged more than £200 was 0.26%.”
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson questioned the average prices quoted by the Red Funnel CEO, telling the audience he had never paid those rates himself…
“If that’s the average, why don’t we all pay that rate.”
Mr Robertson then received a round of applause from the audience after delivering a blunt assessment of ferry services.
“The ferries are too expensive, too unreliable and too infrequent. Surge pricing borders on the immoral.
“The ferry companies took public money during Covid-19 to stay afloat. There is a role for the public sector where the public have no choice. There must be a public obligation or regulation.
“We are unique on the Island in having unregulated companies controlled by private equity groups. The scale of change required requires the hand of Government.
“The ferry companies do have a choice. Every day they have an opportunity to change to avoid Government intervention.
“It’s good that we have 2 MPs from 2 different parties working together on this.”
The issue of late-night services was also raised during the debate.
Ms Collins said the former 23:10 Red Jet service had attracted an average of just 9 passengers per sailing and cost around £250,000 a year to operate.
“The 23:10 Red Jet had an average of 9 customers and cost a quarter of a million pounds a year to run. We operate a lot of unprofitable ferries. However, we do put in a service for shows and late-night football matches.”
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley echoed Mr Robertson’s concerns, noting that he had become known in Westminster as “Mr Ferries” because of the frequency with which he raised the issue in Parliament.
Mr Quigley said many mainland politicians were unaware of the difficulties faced by Islanders until they experienced them first-hand.
He added that politicians from outside the area often did not realise ferry travel needed to be booked in advance until they visited the Island themselves.
The Labour MP also criticised what he described as years of inaction on Solent connectivity and asked the audience to applaud former Isle of Wight MP Andrew Turner for his long-standing campaigning on the issue.
Council leader Jonathan Bacon welcomed the co-operation between the Island’s 2 MPs and expressed hope that attitudes within Government were beginning to change.
“We all have family on the mainland. It costs. Sometimes the logistics don’t work out to make a trip.
“Under Andrew Turner we had top-level meetings with Government but may as well not have bothered for all the attention we got.”
