Both Isle of Wight MPs and the council leader have publicly backed a feasibility study into a possible fixed link to and from the Island.
The rare show of political agreement came during last Friday’s State of the Island debate, where all 3 politicians on the panel expressed support for further investigation into a potential tunnel connection between the Isle of Wight and the mainland.
The issue was raised by former Isle of Wight councillor Debbie Andre, who described a fixed link as ‘the elephant in the room’.
Referring to proposals being explored in the Shetland Islands to improve connectivity through tunnels, Ms Andre asked when the Isle of Wight would seriously consider a similar scheme.
She told the audience:
“The Isle of Wight will only thrive long term with a fixed link tunnel.”
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley said any decision should be based on evidence rather than assumption.
“We can’t have a conversation blind. We need facts and figures.”
Mr Quigley revealed he had written 5 letters supporting a feasibility study to Government ministers and departments, as well as to all candidates standing to become Hampshire and Solent Mayor.
He also suggested that any eventual decision should be put to Islanders in a referendum.
However, he acknowledged there were arguments on both sides of the debate.
“I’m 50/50 as to whether we have one (a tunnel). What happens to people who disappear to the mainland every day? I’m worried about us losing our talent.”
Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson also supported the idea of a study, provided it was not funded locally.
“I’m perfectly happy to see a viability study for a fixed link provided it’s not paid for by Islanders or by money that could be used for something else. If it’s money coming from the Government, let’s have one.”
Council leader Jonathan Bacon revealed he had supported calls for a feasibility study for more than a decade.
“I’ve agreed for many years that we should have such a study. I was contacted in 2015 by a well-known campaigner when I was last leader and wrote a letter in support. It will be on the list of asks for the combined authority.”
Despite backing further investigation, Mr Bacon said he believed any study would likely conclude that a tunnel would be prohibitively expensive and take too long to deliver.
“I’ll go out on a limb and state that any feasibility study would show a tunnel would take so long and cost so much as to be beyond the reaches of reality.
“We need a quicker answer, which is regulation. But we should have the information, so my view can be proved wrong.”
The fixed link debate has divided opinion on the Isle of Wight for decades, with supporters arguing it would improve connectivity and reduce transport costs, while opponents fear it could harm the Island’s unique character and environment.
At the end of the discussion, debate host Marc Morgan Huws asked the audience for a show of hands on whether they supported a feasibility study.
A majority voted in favour, although there were also many abstentions.
However, when asked whether a fixed link would be a “panacea” capable of solving the Isle of Wight’s wider challenges, the majority of those present voted “No”.
Never, ever going to happen
.
You are joking. The island will be ruined. Roads clogged and infrastructure overwhelmed. The island will then turn into a building site, be overcrowded and be no different to London, Manchester, Birmingham or any other horrible mainland place to live. You can’t undo decisions like this once made.