‘Fair ferries or ye’ll face mutiny’ – that was one of the messages from protesters who gathered outside a crucial top-level meeting between ferry bosses, a transport minister and local stakeholders this morning (Wednesday).
Mike Kane MP, Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Security, has joined Isle of Wight MPs Joe Robertson and Richard Quigley in Cowes to discuss the state of cross-Solent ferries. They’re sitting down with Fran Collins (Red Funnel), Katy Taylor (Wightlink) and representatives from the Isle of Wight Council, Hovertravel, the Chamber of Commerce and other organisations.
But Island Echo understands some hot topics – such as nationalisation – are not up for discussion at today’s meeting, which is being hosted at Island Sailing Club.
Before the meeting could get underway, there was some level of embarrassment when protesters rallied outside to make clear the disgruntlement of Islanders when it comes to cross-Solent travel.
Police watched on to keep the peace as protesters – dressed as pirates – made their voices heard, chanting ‘modern day pirates, robbing our Island’ and ‘you should be ashamed. You’re robbing pirates’.
Bronwyn Hamilton-Brown, who heads up the Wightlink User Group, accosted the Minister after he hurried past the group and quizzed him on what he is going to do. The Minister told Bronwyn ‘you don’t need to beg’. But many Islanders feel that is where we are now at, with one protester simply saying ‘we need help’.
Marilyn Wilkins, who has lived on the Isle of Wight for over 30 years, says she can no longer afford to live on the Island so will be leaving for good next Wednesday.
Speaking to Island Echo, she said:
“My family – my children, grandchildren and sister – are on the mainland and they can’t afford to see me, nor can I afford to see them. We can’t afford the ferry costs.
“So after 31 years I’m going back”.
Among those supporting the protest was Vanessa Churchman, Isle of Wight Councillor for Haylands and Ashey, who said:
“We deserve a proper ferry connection.
“The Department for Transport need to start applying rules and regulations”.
As the top dogs sit down to discuss the problems facing travel to and from the Isle of Wight, Wightlink is advising of delays of 60 minutes on its Fishbourne-Portsmouth route due to an issue with a boarding ramp.
Joe Robertson, Isle of Wight East MP, told Rufus Pickles, the Local Democracy Reporter:
“It’s the biggest ongoing issue on the Island. Prices have gone up, timetables have dwindled and reliability has got worse.
“I would like to see the government intervene – the Minister coming here today is a good start but it’s only a start.
“I don’t trust the ferry companies to make the change we need because they owe their responsibilities to one group of people and one group only, their shareholders.”
Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley said the cross-Solent ferries market was a ‘natural monopoly without government intervention’.
He added:
“The Department for Transport aren’t admitting it’s a problem, so we need to make them aware it’s a problem.
“It’s a huge issue and we don’t have an alternative…it’s our only option for travelling across the Solent.”
UPDATE THURSDAY – The Government is to look into timetables, pricing and reliability of Isle of Wight ferries following yesterday’s meeting, according to Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson.
Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/government-to-look-at-pricing-and-reliability-of-isle-of-wight-ferries-after-roundtable-meeting/.
Excellent lets hope the next protest will be bigger and more impactful. Well done. Might make the ferry bosses start to think they are not as invincible as they thought. Quigley won’t make a damn difference, wet lettuce in labour clothing.
Bollocks.. make fun out it nothing is going to change..wasn’t anyway just picture smile hand shake then foff back to it all again..police ..like any of them special.
Is that English?
well its good enough..
You could build a Tunnel quicker.
Khan had a tunnel built in Silvertown in
5 years. (1.4km in length)
These guys couldn’t do a jigsaw puzzle in
5 years.
The blind leading the blind.
The fact Bronwyn is there says it all. Her and WUG are as about as much use as a chocolate teapot.
Can I PLEASE point out to Mr Quigley.
A Monopoly is when 1 company exists in the market without a signifcant rival.
A Duopoly is MUCH MUCH WORSE.
A duopoly is where 2 significant players dominate a market.We have the worse type where neither company competes with each other by providing a better service or lower costs.
The Solent ferries are THUS a Duopoly and not a ‘Natural Monopoly’
You are right in theory, but they do have monopolies on their respective routes, like all competition commission arguments it defends how you define it!
Keep it high..keep’em out. Less building, less road congestion, less problems.
For those still convinced of the desirability of a tunnel:
The Danes and Germans are building 18km (12 miles – twice as long as ours would need to be) of submerged tunnel for about £6Billion, and it’s reckoned to be about the cheapest way of doing it. So we’re looking at £3Billion or so. Once upon a time we could have expected some support from the EU, but …
Perhaps we should get the Danish/German builders to make a few spare sections for us while they have the facility in place? That could shave a few quid off the cost …
But your dealing with the uk and too many wankers so won’t ever get built and would never be the cost they set out for it to be..so cost billions more..
Too think I nearly went to Cowes today,
that was a close shave. I cannot listen to
Numpty’s telling lies and more lies.
They couldn’t undo a packet of crisps between them
yet alone sort the Ferries.
Just more twaddle until the next election when
they all promise us the world and give us
F’all!
No, we don’t need to beg any longer is what he meant. They’re on it, largely thanks to Richard Quigley getting him on board. And no, gov’t regulation wasn’t on the agenda today, but whether it’s on the agenda tomorrow is down to how much comes back from the ferry companies. Hint: the same contingency pot that saved the northern steelworks from failure, but this time with fewer debts passed on. Tick tock, shareholders, high time we took back our ferries and you took your hands out of our pockets.
Great to see both MP’s working on this, just great.
Shirking more like.
Island MPs should demand either a fixed crossing, cost £2bn and take 20 years, or an annual amount of £100m to compensate residents for higher goods prices and crossing costs.
The island already qualifies in financial disadvantage and poverty terms and several other British islands got bridge connections, financial compensation or both, including 5 Scottish and Welsh Islands.
If you dont ask you won’t get.
Why so long it only took. 5 years to build a 1.4km
Tunnel in London.
I know the island are a slow race, but come on, they
ain’t that slow.
Get a northern Company to do the work, job done
Real grafters, not shirkers.