New proposals to increase Floating Bridge fares and introduce a charge for under-19s have been criticised as ‘lunacy’ by an Isle of Wight councillor.
Raising passenger and vehicle ticket prices to align with Dartmouth Lower Ferry and implementing a flat rate of £1 per crossing for under-19s between 19:00 and 07:00 are proposed in a new council report.
The Dartmouth Lower Ferry currently charges £2.50 for an adult single, £5 for an adult day return, £7.50 for a car or small van single and £14 for a car or small van day return.
The proposal comes just weeks after staff on the Floating Bridge told Reform UK councillor Les Kirkby the ferry was ‘not run as a business’.
Cllr Kirkby used the vessel to attend Cowes Week and said ticket officers collected no money on one crossing from ’30 to 40 people’ who boarded.
Strategic director of community services Simon Moon’s report says the ‘financial challenge’ is the single biggest risk to sustainable public services on the Island.
The report adds:
“Accordingly, the council needs to resolutely maximise the deployment of the resources that it does have (revenue, capital, property and staff) towards driving additional income/funding and cost savings to secure council services for the future.”
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However, the report also warns of ‘reputational damage’ and that the ‘improved public perception’ of the Floating Bridge may be impacted by a significant fare increase.
It says congestion on Cowes, Newport and East Cowes road routes could increase as price resistance might deter motorists from making the crossing.
On the proposed flat rate for under-19s, the document states that it is likely residents would launch campaigns against the plan with ‘emotional arguments’ about penalising children and youth activities voiced.
Previous plans for an under-19s charge on the Floating Bridge were thrown out in February after East Cowes ward councillor Karl Love tore into them as “devastating” and hitting those who have the least.
Speaking yesterday, (Monday). the All for Islanders representative said none of the new proposals were discussed with him and described them as “lunacy”.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS):
“This proposal threatens the whole future of our economic sustainability for businesses on the Island.
“Workers affected, parents going to school – pushing prams, escorting their children – after-school clubs will be affected by this.
“Here we have a proposal that could substantially damage the investment potential for our Island. Who is going to want to bring a business here to the Island and invest when it’s going to cost their workforce substantial amounts of money to travel backwards and forwards across the river?”
The proposed changes will be considered as part of a series of savings plans coming before the economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee (ERTIC), along with plans for sweeping parking fees across the Island.
Mr Moon’s report advises the proposals are agreed for recommendation to the policy, finance and resources committee, for adoption in the council’s budget setting processes.
It states that the local government climate is one where the pace at which costs rise is not matched by the speed at which income and funding increases.
ERTIC councillors will discuss the paper on 6th October.
Great way to entirely kill off East Cowes!! Shocking to even think about charging kids!! Disgraceful. How is this council working FOR the people? Dartmouth is a totally different area. Its much more wealthy…
I agree about killing off east cowes However during the summer holidays it was full of kids going back and forth for free probably more than the cars and adults. I think term time and school and after school clubs free but I think kids should pay like everyone else.
it would so much easier if you just got rid of the ferry, and for the council to buy a boat like the Jenny boats. would not need all those the people who work on it (way to many), would get rid of traffic in the towns, and no more tax payers money wasted on it.
ive been using the jenny boats to go back and forth and they are alot quicker and probably more enjoyable. however for people with wheel chairs and buggies slightly harder to get across I no someone last week stuggles with a disabled person in a wheel chair. not too bad in summer but when raining not a great idea
I think a £1 is fair
definitely
Put a poxy bridge in you can do it in Yarmouth why not here ffs
i bridge wouldn’t work here at all, you just need a reliable floating bridge like you use to get not a modern 1 that breaks down weekly.
What absolute rubbish how can they compare prices with Dartmouth ferry
east cowes to West by road is what 9.5mile take about 20-30 min depending on traffic .Dartmouth to Kingswear by road is about 30mile and take about 1hr possible more , so proportionally the Chuggy should be about 33% of the Dartmouth ferry crossing price so the council should in fact reduce the crossing for a car to £2.50 if the want to use that anology…But of course they could use any old excuse to rip us off yet again !!
the iow council makes all the time out of us.
I was on the bridge the other day had 2 people to see cars on 2 people taking the money????
really you need 1 to see motors on 1 to take money
thats 2 lots of wages less so prices can be lowered
plus Dartmouth ferry is reliable barely ever “not in service”for a multitude of excuses by The Council so “jog on”your as mad as a bucket of frogs “all of you!!.
And now stealing the bread from the ducks, outrageous proposal
Just when you think that there can’t be a more stupid story, along comes No Mandy Andy to announce that he’ll SCRAP the Triple Lock in………2030!
LOL, this fucking Liebore idiot thinks that he will still be relevant in 2030!
The stupid “Independent” floating turd of a bridge should be scrapped as should Town and Parish Councils.
The money (over £8million) saved should be used to build a BRIDGE further up the river.
Good job I don’t/never use the piece of shit….
Just put a swing bridge and stop all this rubbish
It’s a floating nightmare, unreliable. Causes traffic chaos and congestion and is unfair and out of date.
Now you talk about putting the price up….only on this Island would they get away with that robbery.
Paying for incompetence.
The parasite is killing the host.
Island will die then what happens to the local authority when it wants more and more.
The Dartmouth Lower Ferry is just a huge raft pulled by tug boats. If the boat breaks down, they just use another one. It works fine, doesn’t cost much to maintain and is really reliable. The prices quoted are for holiday makers. Locals can buy an annual pass much cheaper. Oops! They forgot to mention that…
For a start it would be best if the bloody thing worked. Until you offer a reliable and safe service the council should take a step back. Their reputation is already trashed and starting from the lowest bar and claiming improvement says it all. its not the “kids” paying its the parents.
Naw, you’re alright, I’ll just stay in Cowes. So farewell East Cowes. Take care of yourself