The Wightlink User Group (WUG) be holding its 3rd demonstration next Saturday (15th July) at Western Gardens at the bottom of Union Street in Ryde.
WUG aims to encourage changes that will benefit all residents of the island, their mainland friends and families as well as all future tourists, with a ripple effect that will be of huge benefit to the Island’s economy.
The group’s members – which are now in excess of 3,000 – are working hard on campaigning for the following;
Affordability
- Improved affordability with discounts for residents on individual crossings as well as multi-passes
- Isle of Wight address ‘Friends and family’ discounts
NHS Support
- Free fares for patients needing treatment on the mainland
- A dedicated phone line for patients with booked NHS appointments
- Free car parking at ferry ports for those attending appointments
- Discounts for those accompanying or visiting relatives in hospital
A better timetable
- That connects with rail services
- Allows for late night return to and from the Island
- Gives regular passage to and from the Island, without long intervals between crossings in Yarmouth, Ryde and Fishbourne
- Does not consider the car ferry a viable alternative to the Fastcat
The event begins from the bottom of Union Street at 10:00.
why should someone going for a dental check up have a dedicated phone line, free parking and discounts. talk about freeloaders sponging off a private business
Because, perhaps, we should have adequate dental provision on the island and not have to travel to the mainland?
Yes but why should a private company be responsible for that rather than the NHS?
if you stopped all the freeloading parasites turning up here, claiming benefits and getting free dental, then there would be plenty of space
also – had the stupid housebuilding policies not been implemented and the population not been increased with non islanders, then there wouldn’t be higher demand would there and as such, plenty of space for islanders
Since masse unchecked illegal and legal immigrants have swelled our population of course there is huge pressure for local people on housing , doctors, dentistry etc.
The rich who allow such and encourage it don’t care as they live in leafy lanes, have private health care and education
But many ordinary people move to ihe island as their home towns are now unrecognisable to them since masse immigration, so we then indirectly pay the price too
Yes Joe – because as we all know, there’s loads of highly educated Doctors, Architects, Nurses, Teachers, etc that are also Islanders to tend to our every need.
The more non Islanders, the better, by the sound of your opinions.
Very very correct. The people who have paid into NI shouldn’t have to struggle to get a appointment with in a few days. Same as a doctors appointment
Why do people think its their right to get free travel and free parking??
If on the mainland someone has to travel to a specialist hospital for special treatment then no one pays the extra fuel costs for them or do they??
I dont know anyone in hospital on the mainland currently, but as there are no decent theme parks on the island can I get free ferry travel to go to Thorpe Park??
On the whole it is a choice for someone to live on our lovely island therefore when we make that choice we also know the cost of travel to the mainland for whatever reason
We enjoy house prices that are typically lower than those just the other side of the water
Feel free to leave at anytime if you are not happy with the travel costs
Couldn’t agree more, if you don’t like it then go and I am real a real Islander all 76 years.
Just the 50 for me
What’s a real Islander, exactly?
Not our fault that the NHS doesn’t do certain treatments on the Island. They should be the ones who bear patients costs for hjaveing to travel to the mainland for these treatments.
As recent arrivals ( 7 yrs ), I find it so alienating to be reffered to as a non islander. I educate local young people, teaching them to a level which will help them follow careers anywhere in the world. Hopefully not to end up like Dave boasting in there old age that they are “Islanders” at 76.
Can’t quite work out what an non Islander is exactly? . Myself and my wife both work for the betterment of others on the island, pay our council tax, support local charities, spend on the island whenever we can, not using online mainland suppliers. Yet certain individuals who have never experienced life anywhere else judge us as non Islanders. Get a grip !!!.
And yes we will join the group in Ryde to support a better deal for ferry travellers.
Where in my comment does it mention “Non Islanders”?
Also it is Rainbow who is 76, alas I’m only in my 50s. A little worrying that you are teaching the younger generation when you don’t seem able to follow a simple thread
I am an Islander and proud of it. I did however move off the Island at the age of 16 and work at various locations all over the world. I now choose to operate a business from the island, employing a number of locals.
Do not judge people on what you perceive.
My original comment was that on the whole people make a decision to live on the island knowing the costs associated with going on and off
Ludicrous demands. The ferries aren’t expensive. Maybe go to the mainland and catch a train somewhere to see how expensive travel is in the the real world. These people are living in the 1970s.
Cheaper Ferry Fares is what us Islanders want.
ooh aarrr nipper, that be wat u waant init.
Why is the demonstration in Ryde and not outside one of Wightlinks ferry terminals? Surely the message would be more appropriate delivered where the company is operating, obviously without impacting those traveling
Cos they can’t afford to travel to Portsmouth to go to the Wightlink head office
While some of the aims may be attainable others are certainly not. Discounts would just push up prices in general, there is no such thing as a free lunch. Plus much is outside of the ferry companies remit and looks like more of a wish list. If late/additional sailings are not economic then they are not going run them, I’ve travelled on Yarmouth/Lymington route with only my car on it and a total of 6 foot passengers, simply not sustainable.
The usual four women, two men, and a dog no doubt.
Wightlink are privately owned. Do you really think they will lose money by agreeing to your terms, when they know people have to travel? They will just keep increasing their fares each year, like they always do. They could charge £500 a crossing if they wanted & there’s nothing you could do about it! The only sensible solution is a fixed link, otherwise you will still be moaning about their unreliable, expensive ferries in 20 years.