Day trippers to the Isle of Wight have been told to stay away as the Government relaxes the lockdown restrictions so that from tomorrow (Wednesday) people could travel great distances.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined his ‘first sketch of a roadmap’ for the gradual lifting of coronavirus lockdown measures on Sunday night. It was announced that from tomorrow (Wednesday), people are allowed to spend more leisure time outdoors – provided they stick to social distancing guidelines.
However, the leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Dave Stewart, says this change should not be seen as an invitation for people to flock to the Island or move location to their second home.
Councillor Stewart says:
“The move to a new phase in the national response to coronavirus is best summed up in the new message from the prime minister to “Stay Alert: Control the Virus and Save Lives”.
“It remains the council’s priority to protect our Island community in the best way that we can.
“To that end the message for those on the mainland who may be thinking of visiting us is: ‘Please stay away at this time – it is not yet safe for us or for you to come to the Island. We will tell you when it is safe to do so’.”
Will Myles, managing director at Visit Isle of Wight adds:
“The time to visit our beautiful island will return and we will be here to welcome our visitors once again, unfortunately that time is not now. The Island will wait!”
Like many local authorities up and down the country, the council said it was carefully evaluating the impact of the government’s latest plans, both for how it delivered services and for the recovery of the whole Island community.
The opening of Lynbottom tip on Monday is a measure of the start of a return to some of the things we once knew before COVID-19.
Cllr Stewart adds:
“While it comes with a new booking system and a temporary road traffic arrangement, it is a demonstration of the sort of things we can and will need to do, as we start to recover from the impact of the virus.
“I am grateful to all Islanders for the way they have engaged with the new plans for accessing the tip which went very well on day one.”
The Island with its very important App trial doesn’t want to be invaded with day trippers, the cross channel ferries said only essential crossings only, I own a second home at Ryde, I spend over 20 weeks a year there, I would love to go over for several weeks but it’s not fair to do that at the moment, hope to get over sometime before the winter
Unfortunately Peter, I fear a lot of people won’t have the same sense as you. I can see an avalanche coming in the next few weeks, unless the island authorities nip it in the bud.
If only they could or would! This could be a disaster for us as the ferries have no jurisdiction.
If this government really and truthfully wanted to restrict travel to the island, it is simple.
1. Have uniformed police officers stationed at Red Funnel car ferry Southampton, Wightlink Car Ferry Portsmouth and Hovertravel southsea, as these are the only open routes to the island.
2. Stop each and every person that arrives at these ferry terminals and ask that they provide proof of residency on the island and not a second home or they provide a key worker authorisation letter that indicates they either work on the island or are travelling back home after work or are transporting goods to the island.
3. All those not meeting the criteria above – to be turned away – and told – contact ferry company about refund or moving ticket date.
4. All those that do meet the criteria in point 2 are permitted to travel.
Excellent solution to those who still think it’s ok to come to the island, I love my island, but hearing that we have lost more people here to the virus makes it even more important that something more is done quickly to protect us here!
Good idea we should also ban mobile homes and caravans at the moment as all hotels and guest houses are closed and people would have nowhere tostay
It’s a great idea but will they follow this
Bob Seely could seek powers to deal with this matter, especially now that the app test program is under way. He has been asked a couple of times on radio if he will be doing anything to curb visitors traveling across on the ferries at this time, but always seems to evade the question, I hope this has nothing to do with the fact that his cousin Patrick Seely is a director for Red Funnel.
Why have a police Officer when the ferry company could ask the very same questions. They have enough to do.
Not when we’ve got people advertising thier Holiday cottages( at a discount and cheap Ferries) in Whitwell , on Facebook market place saying ” if you like peace and quiet come to the island, you’ll have the beaches to yourself.
Good for you I wish everyone was like you!
Me too Peter. I own a second home in Seaview. I’m an Nhs worker & have given up several weeks holiday & worked extra shifts every week. I have also lost my beloved dog Robin during the last few weeks so I will hopefully in the future look forward to some tranquil time on the island. Stay safe everyone. Until the island is open we can just dream.
Sorry Peter, but we don’t want you. Stay away
Are the ferry’s not checking on cars coming over.
Best they stay away until this virus is under control, possibly even next year.
Can’t we get the navy to patrol the Solent and threaten to sink boats trying to cross
Unfortunately the ferries have no authority. Bob Seeley should be taking every opportunity and every step to protect us but has shown time and again that he just doesn’t care about the people he should be representing. I live on a caravan park and continuosly witness second home owners coming and going. I agree they should be stopped getting on and off the ferries and turned back and if they’re not offered a refund of their fares maybe that’d have some effect!!
Our good old MP is encouraging businesses to open again money over peoples lives.
MONEY CAN BE EARNT AFTER THIS IS UNDER CONTROL, BUT LIVES CAN’T BE BROUGHT BACK!
That’s because of his & Pugh’s vested interests in the ferry companies. They both get backhanders, & Pugh’s company ‘The chine consultancy advice ltd’ has Wightlink as one of its biggest clients!
They make me sick. They don’t care about islanders at all. If they did he would have done something about the ferries stopping people.
Are the police going to stop the yachts coming over to all the Island harbours?? Will the ferries check on people using them?? plenty have arrived in Yarmouth and Bembridge already, so what a joke this is. Second homers and caravan owners etc. will want St Mary’s to deal with all their health issues and are so rich they obviously feel none of this applies to them anyway and we will have to put up with it….strange that the app for virus is being tried out here…a good test of what happens when the rules have been relaxed.
I wondered why us to try the app they called us Guinea pigs there not wrong let’s see the visitors run if the virus takes a turn down hill come on you overs think of our NHS AND NOT YOUR SELFS FOR A CHANGE
Seaview is full of second homers . The pathways are packed and the boats are all on the cars ready to go. The paddle boarders have been on the sea throughout. One rule for the entitled and one for others.
Yes, I think it best if holiday makers & day trippers stay away for the moment. No tourist attractions, cafes or pubs are open anyway & there are plenty of nice places on the mainland to enjoy/take exercise etc. so no need to come over here.
There is such a simple solution which does not involve vast resources, have a police officer at Southampton and Portsmouth checking details, if they can not prove that they live permanently on the Island they should be turned away,if possible fine and not given a refund from the ferry, the message will soon get round if it is costing them.
Let’s protect our small part of the NHS and save lives on the Isle of Wight
Except that travelling to the island for a day trip is not illegal or even against the official guidance so they wouldn’t have any grounds to do that.
Sadly you are correct, there is nothing in the guidance to stop them.
Yes but it could be done if our mp wanted to
Your absolutely right Christopher give the ferries police control
Oh no here we go no food just a nightmare
Apparently the ferry companies have no authority to question anyone as to the reason they are travelling too the Island.
I personally know of a boyfriend who travels from the West Country to visit his girlfriend every weekend, even during the first weeks of lockdown.
The local law/bye laws need to be updated to give Transport companies that serve the Isle of Wight the authority to question non domiciled travellers.
So why are the ferry companies increasing the number of sailings?
more people going back to work – means more ferries needed to meet demand
Because they’ve had their millions from the government, & have to satisfy their shareholders! One word… ‘Money’
Keep Away. Stay on the mainland and don’t come here. Ferry companies just desperate for money as always, par for the course, the island residents get the middle finger yet again. Jeez.
Appreciate people not coming to their second home. Maybe council should not charge them poll tax until covid is under control.
Yeah right!!! If they can afford to buy up our much needed homes here and drive up the prices for our youngsters trying to get on the ladder they can damn well pay their council tax! Should be a huge second home tax in my opinion!
The rules say you can travel, but you cannot stay away overnight. Hopefully this will prevent people tempted to come over for the time being. Also, are no pubs, restaurants or tourist attractions open at the moment.
I have said before, I say again, employ the Border Force to stop all cross Solent travel, including small boats. When you look at things carefully there is not even need for lorry drivers to cross over; what about the drop trailer scheme?
Again I plead with any potential visitors or second home owners stay away until this is all over
I work for NHS and really don’t want to see an inevitable second wave because people have been so selfish