Island Echo always welcomes letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
This letter is in response to the news that Wightlink is to impose a green surcharge on its Fishbourne-Portsmouth route, due to Government directions – https://www.islandecho.co.uk/new-ferry-green-levy-to-add-3-to-wightlink-return-crossings-from-july/.
Letter to the editor – Wednesday 29th April 2026
“I have today received a letter from Wightlink stating that there is now a Environmental levy charge on each leg of the trip
Article continues below this advertisement “This is a charge introduced by the government for Wightlink so why are customers paying it ?
“Also this is an environmental charge. Wightlink vessels are supposed to be Hybrid so more environmental friendly. Clearly this is not the case with a charge.
“How is a charge beneficial to the environment anyway
“As usual the end user is paying for poor level of service in increased charges , while they damage the ferries and dockside and withcontinuous cancellations and delays all we receive are price increases
“I was against a bridge but I welcome it these days”
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Andrew Wren
Isle of Wight
Its not about the environment, its all about making money for the cult of net zero.
Same as ULEZ, its supposed to be about making London’s air quality better, but as long as you pay it doesn’t matter.
Its all one big con, they go on about dirty diesel and petrol cars, they have never been cleaner due to catalytic converters and cleaner produced fuel.
If net zero is achieved we’ll be back in the dark ages and bankrupt, plus it wont make one bit of difference as the UK only produce 1% of the world emissions.
I must admit when I switched to my EV I didn’t pay any
road fund and when visiting my son in London I didn’t
have to pay any ULEZ or Congestion charges
Now I have to pay road fund and Congestion charge
so I no longer travel by car when visiting my son.
Was all a scam a con to get people..and it worked.
It is estimated that 3000 lives a year are now saved with the cleaner air. And the Croydon Coroner decreed that a kid died from the pollution which exacerbated her breathing issues a couple of years ago.
Absolute bollocks..
That was the Coroner stating that, not me. Fact. Air pollution: Coroner calls for law change after Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s death – BBC News
No further comment from thegoon then?
Don’t want a bridge!!!!
You are right, Susie. A bridge would make travelling to and from the Island as easy as driving, cycling or even walking from Southsea to Cosham on the North Island. The unintended consequences would be the destruction of everything that makes the Island so special and attractive.
We need a bridge or a tunnel
But Scottish islands are exempt from this levy. The IOW is struggling for tourist numbers which seem to reduce every year but we have to suck it up
Our local MPs have continuously tried to explain to central government that the Island has really bad transport issues.
This charge is allegedly being imposed to incentify green transport links but this is currently impossible to meet due to sufficient power being unavailable in Portsmouth and Southampton.
What it comes down to is the fact that Labour seem to think the Island is wealthy and have therefor imposed this cynical tax, for it is nothing more than that, to penalise Islanders!
It clearly shows Labour neither cares about nor understands our situation!
Remember this dear voter when you cast your vote, Labour is no friend of the Isle of Wight!
Bloody wanker government..net zero shit..will keep going up from now on.
Why are shitelink not sucking this up??. They make millions from us over inflated bloody fares £300 plus not enough?.
And yet in bloody Scotland no charge? why?
Scotland have better rules for it’s people.
Better healthcare and better home buying services etc etc
We are being fleeced, Enough is Enough
Do Scotland ever pay for anything?
No coz we pay for it all for them so they don’t throw their toys out the oram
No we subsidize it all..so that’s nice.