Red Funnel has launched its 2nd phase of public consultation for proposed upgrades to its port in East Cowes.
Following the initial round of consultation with the community in early Summer, Red Funnel has listened to feedback and further progressed its plans for its 3 existing sites in East Cowes. The proposals focus on removing ferry traffic from East Cowes town centre roads; improving accessibility to the port and waterfront; and supporting local economic growth.
Residents can find further information and have their say on the proposed plans by visiting the website www.redfunnelport.com. Red Funnel will also host another public exhibition at East Cowes Town Hall on Saturday 7th October, from 10:00 to 16:00, where residents can learn more about the updated proposals and how their feedback has been incorporated into the plans.
Updated areas within the proposals include more detailed plans for the terminal layout and waterfront; more clarity on traffic management and public accessibility; how the designs will support the local environment and how the proposed second linkspan will be used.
Leanna Lakes, Operations Director at Red Funnel, said:
“We’d like to thank the community for their feedback during the first round of our consultation – it’s been extremely valuable to help further shape our proposals. We’re excited to show how our plans have progressed at our public exhibition in October and look forward to continued collaboration with the community, to ensure our upgrades align with the needs of both visitors and residents.
“We want to create a port that the community can be proud of in East Cowes. It’s essential we offer a resilient lifeline and future-fit service for the Isle of Wight, which I’m confident is what these plans will deliver.”
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The proposal continues to explore the potential for a mixed-use development, including a hotel and retail spaces, with a focus on driving economic growth and improving the waterfront’s overall appeal.
It’s said that by upgrading its infrastructure, Red Funnel will be able to run more punctually and reliably and offer an improved passenger experience, as well as ensure that any impact on residents and highways is minimised.
Under the current plans, construction is not expected to begin for nearly 2 years, but will be finished by the end of 2025. However, the Red Jet reserve berth won’t be finished until 2026 and the new northern linkspan in 2027 – still some 4 years away.
Make it a condition that Islanders must be offered a permanent low, fixed fare if they want this to go ahead.
Basically something like £45 return. Any time, any day and irrespective of how long you are away for.
Yep. Ideal opportunity to twist their arms. If they want this they will have to give something substantial back to Islanders.
And if Red Funnel are forced to provide fixed price fares to Islanders, Wightlink will have to follow suit.
Actually, looks decent.
If I were to nitpick I’d say that personally I would of course prefer to have some green space in the centre instead of a hotel cause there’s a lot of concrete in the centre already, and I’m not sure there’s any appetite from tourists to stop so close to the terminal? I’ve been traveling to IOW many times before moving here and never thought that East Cowes waterfront was missing a hotel. But hey, maybe it will bring in some nice restaurant or spa, idk.
The turns from/to terminals going via Old Road should definitely get banned by Island Roads though. Old Road doesn’t have pavements at so many places (sic!), it’s not a safe space for residents as it is and shouldn’t have any thorough traffic.
They can’t organise the traffic there at the moment! Never enough staff!! One lane on approach to the ticket booth last Saturday meaning the cars are backed up through E Cowes!!
Yesterday evenng alone shows us why RF must not be allowed to expand capacity wihout somehing being done to inprove traffic management beyond their minimal proposals. As for Old Road, if Island Roads/IWCC can’t see why that is a no-no then there is no hope for us.
Consultation? I don’t think so.
The design depicted in this article bears absolutely no resemblance to East Cowes or Cowes whatsoever. It’s just pie in the sky. What is the point of a consultation when Red Funnel will simply bulldoze through whatever they want to do anyway, they certainly won’t be swayed by what the public want. East Cowes is going to become a very dangerous place with a great deal of traffic being sent up a residential street (Old Road) that is already unsuitable for pedestrians.
I used to live off Old Road and it takes an element of local knowledge to know that route exists and tourist will just follow the signage.
But they’re happy to run 30+ year old ferries that are no longer reliable
Next to the existing boat dock there is a public slipway gifted to the people of East Cowes by Queen Victoria. Red Funnel have tried and failed to steal this before. I would urge all boat owners to start using this, preferably with masts up (cos you won’t be able to if RF build an accessway across it) and please turn up to object at the forthcoming meeting.
I agree with others that old road will suffer if this goes ahead (and no, I don’t live on that road).
That slipway has been difficult to use even 60 years ago with the tidal flows there and hardly anyone uses it, they have said they are working with others on a new location.