As part of his campaign for better ferry services, Island MP Bob Seely has written to Wightlink to ask a series of questions. In the letter, Mr Seely highlights the decline in Wightlink services, the levels of disruption caused by mechanical and maintenance issues, and the levels of debt. He said that the decline in speed and frequency of services between 2001 and today has resulted in:
- A reduction in Ryde passenger sailings by up to 45%.
- A reduction in Fishbourne car ferry sailings by up to 38%.
- A reduction in Yarmouth car ferry sailings by up to 56%.
On levels of disruption, Mr Seely said that based on Wightlink’s Twitter travel updates, Wightlink services were disrupted by technical, mechanical, maintenance or staff issues on 59 days in the 2 years to 14 April 2024; 17 days were disrupted due to mechanical issues; 15 days due to technical issues; 15 days due to staff shortages; and 12 days due to maintenance. This does not include disruption due to weather, operational issues or emergencies. This is likely to be an underestimate of the number of days disrupted, because Wightlink’s travel updates on Twitter do not always record when revised timetables are in place. The Island’s MP said, in recent years, Wightlink’s parent company, Arca Topco, continued to build up debt. On paper, since 2016, Arca Topco’s borrowings have increased from £212,468,000 to £261,593,000; over a quarter of a billion pounds worth of debt. He said:
“I am gathering evidence to show that both the ferry firms are letting Islanders down. We have worse and more expensive services, less frequent services and services that are more prone to disruption. “This information is going to the Council and to the Government so that I can persuade both of them that we need change. “As part of getting a better deal on the ferries, I want to see a common plan between the MP, Council and the Island as whole.”
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Too little too late..this has been going on the whole time Seely has been in office..with an election looming Seely suddenly springs into action..by writing a strongly worded letter
Why hasn’t Bob insisted we get ‘Island Status’? If we had that, government have to keep a cap on prices and view performance of the ferries regularly.
The Baron rides in on his charger in this auspicious year to challenge them with his lump of dough.
Too little too late,youve had years to do this,but then again,all you have done is write them a letter
and all wightlink will do is ignore you,as you will be voted out soon,you utter pilchard!
Is it an election year? I’ve never heard so much about the islands MP for the last five years.
It’s really time that the problem of having to use the ferries for mainland medical attention that is not available on the island. Unfortunately the term ‘National’ Health Service does not apply to the Isle of Wight. If people on the mainland were told that they had to pay £70 to access treatment there would be uproar. It’s not a fair and equal system, something has to be done!
well – the simple solution is the same as the one we had, when i was in the armed forces- when I travelled home, I was permitted a number of ferry warrants – I just presented it to wightlink and they gave me a ticket – wightlink then claimed the money back from the armed forces.
The NHS could issue travel warrants to patients who would hand these to which ever ferry they use and be provided free travel – the ferry claims it back from the NHS
PopUp Bob Too little too late .. your time is up.. get the Tories out is the primary goal now .. change is long overdue .. your inaction.. should play on your conscience.. but it probably won’t .. I’m looking forward to a new MP that believes in action rather than words and waste of time letters ..
perhaps he should include hovertravel – last three times I have tried to use it, I have ended up on the fastcat because they had rammed a large group of kids onto it, taking up every available space – I have given up and now use the fastcat for my day trips, because of their poor planning. Which genius thought this would be a good idea- no one else can get on.
perhaps seely can help
people will cry about high prices yet pay for them like the subhuman cucks they are
lmao
Go Bob, saviour of the people. Putting the countries wrongs to right. Wearing underpants outside of your trousers. I’ll vote for you……. apparently.
I really preferred it when he was seldom seen Seely, how much are island echo getting for posting his mugshot on a daily basis?
Oh is that what our MP looks like , could it be there is an election soon ??
Nothing will come of it. Wightlink will have ready made answers.
Needs hard regulation but Tory government isn’t interested in this.
Oh dear , Mr half a sausage is at it again ,let’s sort out the ferries.
Bit late for that Bob , you’ve had your chance for ages and have done zilch to help sort out that shambles.
Oh gosh , an election is round the corner , maybe that’s why you are chatting about it now
So pop up Bob says the service has deteriorated since 2021, so why hasn’t he been bothered before, oh yes he’s remembered it’s coming up election time, however Bob the voters will also remember, in this case remember that you haven’t bothered for the last three years.
Good old Bob trying to tell private companies how to run their business. I think his forgetting their share holders want their cash
Unknown why building a TUNNEL is never mentioned…
Go away Sausage. You don’t fool anyone with half a brain cell or more
Well what a coincidence that a few metaphorical minutes before a GE takes place, this ‘Seely man’ is noticing there’s something badly wrong with our ferry services.
Never had any of this trouble when Sealink ran the ferries…
Depressing to see the Island’s MP once again attacking two vital local businesses.
He wants a “common plan” between the MP, the Council and the whole Island. A plan to do what? Campaign to have our ferries nationalised? No thanks.
More porkies from Squealy Seely.
He has no power to do anything about the ferries, and he knows it. He hoping that if he makes enough noise about the gullible will still vote for him.
Bob it is high time a Bridge or Tunnel was built.
We need a service that we can rely on, also a service that does not
RIP off island residents.
Of course Redfunnel are perfect Bob
He’s spent years protecting these companies interests and now thinks he can change things
Hopefully we get an MP who’s interested in the Island not his career
Oh well BOB if you want to make an impression then you are much too late.
Your reputation is now in tatters, you just cant make out you are now interested in your community just because its an election year it is so transparent of you.
Get a bridge between East and West Cowes for starters and charge the boats if it needs to be open so boats can pass just like Yarmouth Bridge and stop the Council wasting money on another floating disaster.
Then look into a bridge across the Solent and scrap all the Ferries, Red Jets etc and it would liberate this place.
Forget all this pre-election crap, we need a fixed link, we have needed it for years !
Perhaps then the island can catch up with the 21st century
There should be a limit on debts on all companies that provide a public services. Thames water is an example of this just like the ferry companies.
Amazing how long Seely has been the Island’s MP, yet only springs to action during an election year.
Coming out of the cave, is there an election coming soon. I would exercise my right to vote but am being prevented due the requirement of photo id. Never needed before, is this a way to manipulate voting?