The Isle of Wight’s MP has written to the Minister for Maritime, International and Security, Lord Davies of Gower, to raise Islanders’ concerns about Red Funnel services in advance of a Department for Transport meeting with the company. In his letter, Bob Seely MP has reiterated concerns raised about Red Funnel in his report into the performance of the cross-Solent market. The report calls for government regulation of the cross-Solent ferry operators. He states that he is concerned about the sale of Red Jet 4, which will leave just 2 hi-speed vessels to operate a 2-boat timetable on the West Cowes-Southampton Red Jet service. Bob has told the Minister that Islanders are fed up with delays and cancellations and has questioned whether Red Funnel can run a stable timetable with only just 2 Red Jets. Mr Seely goes on to say:
“I believe we should be concerned about the performance of both major cross-Solent ferry operators (Wightlink and Red Funnel). Successive buyouts and sales of Red Funnel have engineered the group to be heavily indebted to banks and shareholders. “One of the things that concerns me most is that despite Red Funnel’s significant operating profits – over 20 percent of turnover in 2019 (over £13 million) – and its reported bank loans of over £125 million [in 2019], the company has not replaced its car ferries in almost 30 years and will still be required to ‘fundraise’ for investment in new ships.”
The MP has also told the Minister that the current model for cross-Solent ferry services had limited investment in connectivity and degraded passenger services:
“For a given Monday in February, in 1999, […] Red Funnel operated 32 passenger sailings from West Cowes; today it operates only 22 sailings. In 1999, the passenger crossing took 22 minutes; today it takes 28 minutes, in part to reduce fuel consumption. In the 2000s, the company maintained its two-boat passenger timetable using a minimum of three vessels. Today, Red Funnel has removed back-up vessels for passenger services such that if one vessel fails, the timetable can no longer be maintained.”
A number of questions have been put to Lord Davies of Gower by Bob Seely, which will also be asked of Red Funnel:
- What is the value of the Red Funnel group’s total debt and what is the function of this debt? What is the ratio between the Red Funnel group’s capital value and debt?
- What proportion of the Red Funnel group’s debt is index-linked? How much interest does the Red Funnel group pay on its debts per year and is this acceptable?
- Over the past 20 years, has Red Funnel sought to reduce operating expenditure per passenger?
- Over the past 20 years, has Red Funnel raised the average fare per passenger above inflation? This relates to the average of all fares given yield management pricing.
- Does Red Funnel expect to maintain its current passenger service with two passenger vessels in use?
It is about time to put the ponds back instead of filling them up or just letting them silt up
Something must be done to stop main roads flooding. This is the 21st century after all.
Not on the Isle of Wight I’m afraid.
Do you still think climate change is fake??? We should rename winter too flood season here on the island. 25 years was once in a blue moon. Now every week. Almost like the scientists know what they are talking about and your mate down the pub that loves trump has been lying all along about it being fake. Anyone who still thinks it’s fake needs to go chat to the people this is affecting and learn the truth.
The climate has always changed and always will, it will do its thing long after we Humans have destroyed each other….
It’s a natural climate change, don’t forget that the Ice Age officially ended 11,000 years ago so obviously the world will get warmer.
The climate farce is a big con, nature knows how to
look after itself, it’s been doing it on it’s own for years.
The climate change is the biggest Government scam that ever happened. Any reason they can find to rip off the public to keep a load of ”Save the planet” fenatics happy. Bloody sure there’s climate change, how do they think it’s got to how it is now, from a solid ball of ice millions of years ago. And it’s not even us who are biggest culprits, China, America and the bastards who keep detroying the rain forest are the ones to blame.
No it’s people not doing they’re job. Take the road near Newport Cricket club, all it took was to clear out the drains and surprise surprise no flooding
You honestly think it’s climate change because the River Yar floods?
It’s MARSHLAND. It’s called Brading Marsh for a reason. It’s been a marsh for a hundred years or more, look at the old maps of the area.
It actually used to be tidal, but then the causeway was built, and it blocked both the tide coming in and the water exiting (although there’s an option to open a sluice gate, but for some reason they don’t).
If you’re looking for things to blame on climate change, you’re barking up the wrong tree here.
Probably best if you just stick to blaming the Tories for everything, at least that makes a bit more sense.
with all your expertise,what is making it flood then? anything to do with all the water coming out the sky because sea temps are rising?
It has only happened since the Environment agency started to keep the river level higher to suit the RSPB requirements to keep the water level high in their Brading Marshes. It will never get better unless they are forced to return to the old system. Mass protests to EA would be good
OK but who are the Environment Agency. This is rain water open the gates and let it out and clean the waterways out.
You are quite right, this is deliberate action from the EA to flood the Brading Marshes, which then floods the area around it.
Time this council got the environment Agency to do its job and manage the sluice gates at Bembridge Harbour. The flooding was only created for migrating birds. At times of heavy rain the gates should be opened at low tide to stop the roads and homes being flooded.
Ive searle and their tarmac roads are doing fabulous. Flooded roads, roads closed due to landslip, roads closed for island roads to poorly resurface. Carry on I’ve searle
If there is concern about silting up the harbor when opening the sluice valves at St. Helen’s, how about installing a weir to drain off the the stagnant cleaner upper water and still maintain an acceptable level for the wild life.
I think the owner of the harbour would prefer that the sluice gates be opened further, rather having a weir installed. The consequential increased flow through the sluice gates would reduce siltation in the harbour. A weir has been proposed by the Environment Agency but that would have an adverse impact on the harbour as well as causing continued flooding round the Eastern River Yar. I am not holding my breath for a decision which benefits people over birds.
I am surprised the island Numpty’s are not building
homes on this land.
Ha Ha Ha
Well you’re the builder
Climate change is real, but it’s mainly a natural occurence. By the time it is so bad people have to emigrate en-mass, there won’t be any people. Humans are destined to go extinct. We simply are not bright enough to mitigate nature, we can’t even live together in peace.
They should build a flyover from Brading to The Heights. Bypass Sandown altogether.
Well done Bob, kick them where it hurts. I will expect a positive outcome instead of the usual garbled rubbish that we get from the ferry companies now is the time to keep the pressure on and if they are unable to perform to an acceptable standard remove their licence and step aside.
What licence?
Their licence is granted by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and is purely based on safety.
RF could run 1 ferry a week and keep their licence as long as they comply with MCA rules.
RF are a private enterprise who can run their business in any way they wish and there is nothing Silly Seely can do about it.
Positive outcome?
he should have been doing this years ago,but hold on,its election year.
like everything he claims to do,nothing will come of it.
Spot on .. he hopes this inaction will save him .. delusional man His favourite pen letters m an and do nothing .. time for a new and visionary MP .. as if we would be that successful..
poorly thought out response bill – if they are unable to perform to an acceptable standard remove their licence and step aside.
and they will take their ferries with them and don’t forget – they own all the port facilities – private property – good luck getting to use them
Ha ha ha.
The Tories are going to be booted into the long grass in about 6 months time.
That’s not enough time to pass any legislation to fix the ferries and if Islanders are dumb enough to re-elect him, he’s going to be a pointless and powerless opposition back-bencher with even less influence and power than he has now (which is almost zero).
The only way to get anything done about the ferries (and it’s a long-shot, I grant you) is to have an MP (not one as useless as Seely, mind) in the party of Government.
And that’s going to be Labour for at least the next 10 years.
And you think that a labour government or any other government of any name will be any better – not once in all living history has any government ever done anything that wasn’t to their own agenda – perhaps you need to wake up a bit wonky
how many times do you see unpopular government plans voted through in parliament – with the support of opposition parties – think about it eh- they all go out of their way to get as much cash personally from their time as an MP first
pointless waste of time, asking another relic sat in the house of lords, who is completely devoid of any knowledge of the marine industry, passenger transport ferries or life on the island and has absolutely no ability to do anything to interfere in private, for profit business – red funnel owners, can if they so wish, simply pull the plug on the business and walk away.
And why has he not written same to wightlink?
as usual bob,full of hot air,should have done this when you were (sadly) voted in,not in an election year.
you are just appaling as an “MP”
Because he has links to it via David Pugh, a quid pro quo arrangement as DP was instrumental in getting ol’ Bob his seat here.
That name Pugh ! What a disaster he created – started and then just walked away ..
More likely he is planning to do a separate one for each operator and route to make it look like he is doing more and boost his pre-election publicity as much as possible.
They missed out the start of his letter, where it says “in light of your failure to send me my brown envelop this month for ‘campaign funding’ I will be, as promised, making your life hell till you pay up.”.
Could you write to the guy called Prime Minister?
I think his party is responsible for selling off public transport to private companies a long time ago.
Maybe that party can do something about it and get us service as good and cheap as Germans or Dutch enjoy.
I think party is called “Tories” or something like that. Don’t mistake them with “conservatives” cause I can’t believe they wouldn’t want to conserve IOW rail network between Cowes and Ventnor for example.
Blimey heck. I actually agree and applaud Seeley for the first time since he was elected!!!! Could an election be coming up sometime soon? Mind you – I would rather vote for the Raving Looney Monster Party than Bob. Too little too late!!
Both crap services shitelink and red fuddle..
Red F**kup you mean.
Give it up Bob. It’s all a little to late. You had the chance to do something about this year’s ago. Now its election year you decide to pipe up. Why don’t you crawl back down the hole you came from, go eat half a sausage and keep on dreaming about your ‘island deal’.
Time for a Bridge or Tunnel
Both Ferry Companies and Hovertravel are too expensive
for such a short crossing.
Many Ferries in NYC charge $2.95 for their short crossings
Why charge so much?!
The most expensive crossing per mile in the world, apparently.
Who in their right mind would think it might be a good idea to help trash one of the two ferry services, thus leaving us with just one? Ooo look, a chance for a monopoly. Lots and lots of money to be made there then, especially with his deep, embedded friendship with David Pugh (remember him? Wiki helps..) and his strong links to Wightlink.
We sadly remember the original Tim – nice but Dim character .. an utter disaster of a leader and those that replaced Pugh were – are no better .. why ?
He was one of the faces behind the new floating bridge….neither dim nor nice, just clever and slippery. And costly.
Bob is treating Red Funnel as if they are a part of a government department or get funding from the Government. They are totally private and can walk away at anytime, it they were getting a subside it would be different but they don’t. If he was looking at the whole issue properly, then he needs to come up with solutions, instead of just banging on about on Fery company.
Adrian you are correct ….but sadly Pop Up Bob does do “joining the dots up” his lack of attention and action now result in this farce electioneering… pity the fool that believes he is being genuine .i
Well, they were gullible enough to believe his gibberish in 2017 and 2019.
Let’s face it, with an electorate dumb enough to vote overwhelmingly for the , now proven, idiocy of Brexit, Seely could promise magic fairy-dust powered ships and the thick Island gammonry will lap it up.
Election Election Election
Could it be an election year?
Hold on Bob… didn’t you install your financier cousin Patrick Seely as an overpaid non executive director of Red Funnel just 166 days after you became MP?
PERHAPS YOU’VE FORGOTTEN THAT THIS NEPOTISTIC POSITION HAD YOUR COUSIN ADVISING RED FUNNEL ON HOW TO RUN THE BUSINESS?
Now you’re complaining!
You can’t make this stuff up.