Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely says that Wightlink’s apology for cancelling services on Friday is ‘frankly not good enough’, given their increasingly poor record of reliability. As first reported by Island Echo, the cross-Solent operator cancelled a number of services yesterday (Friday) which has impacted those heading to and from the Isle of Wight for the Bank Holiday weekend. Speaking about the disruption, current Member of Parliament Bob Seely has said:
“To have such a disrupted service on a bank holiday weekend not only hits Islanders but costs Island businesses money. The ferries’ unreliability is hitting our Island economy as well as inconveniencing individual Islanders. “My recent report into the ferries has shown that the ferries have become less reliable, slower, less frequent and more expensive than they were two decades ago. “I had hoped that after Covid they would reset their relationship with the Island and frankly do a better job, given the public money given to them and their status as a lifeline service. Sadly, the opposite has happened. In particular, their staffing levels don’t seem to be good enough to offer a reliable service and there are rumours that the firms are cutting back on their servicing to save money to pay their owners. “It is not good enough. I am campaigning to get a better deal. We need a better deal. “First, I will be encouraging and doing what I can to help new services to compete with Wightlink and Red Funnel, which between them have over £400 million pounds of debt, the majority of it borrowed to pay their owners – not for investing in services. “Second, we need regulation of service not only to encourage competition but also to protect the interests of the Island, which as far as I can see come last in the ferry firms’ calculations. “Next week, prior to Parliamentary dissolution, I will be publishing figures on how often Red Funnel cancel services based on staffing shortages or poor servicing.”
It was on Friday morning that Mr Seely presented a Bill to Parliament calling for ferry regulation.
Finally found his voice when election time comes around
And shouting loudly, now that parliament is disbanded and there’s nobody to hold them to account. Way to go Bob.
Bob Seely has been campaigning for better and more reliable ferries since he was elected. It’s easy to say that his latest statement was made because it’s election time but he’s been very active trying to get both Red Funnel and Wightlink to be more accountable to the public.
It’s all noise. He knows this is something that is impossible to deliver on. He just hopes people like you fall for it.
Bob does seem to be understanding and helping the people get what they need nowadays. I hope it isn’t just because it’s election season. Perhaps that’s harsh but but seemed less vocal before.
Mind could be the media highlight him more now as we all get ready to vote
I am going to vote Tory if they can find a permanent effective solution to the endless freeloading in sea craft arriving here every day.
Otherwise reform.
We know Labour will walk it as country full of spongers from indigenous and now the third world wanting ever more believing that we owe them a living.
So labour will encourage more to stay in power, not caring that the rest of us will fund such forever
Found the nutter!
What utter nonsense. Labour have no intention of opening the immigration floodgates. That is simply scare-mongering – an old Tory trick. What people are concerned about is the cost of living, the decimation of every public service, esp the NHS, safe streets with proper policing, properly funded schools – all the things the Tories have broken over the last 14 years while sucking the financial lifeblood from the contry to give it to their chums. We need a government for the country and the people of this country, not for a few idle rich, most of whom are non-doms and pay virtually no tax in the UK but leech money out of the public purse.
Oh Dear Marcus, you have failed to mention the swathe of PFI contracts that Labour saddled the NHS with under Tony Blair. Im no fan boy but please take off the rose tinted goggles there becasue WE will be paying for those contracts or many years to come yet
Where do you think he has been for past far to many years?hiding under a huge rock that befits an odious toady he has no more intention of “sorting things”than flying to the moon (a preferable trip it has to be said off The Island)no voice on chain ferry,no voice on Islanders being shovelled across Solent to Southampton or Portsmouth Hospitals when ferry’s allow of course!no voice on where missing
Covid funds went to boost The Island or where the promised millions he said The Island were getting to boost tourism,essential services….The Island needs” SeldomSeen Seeley “like a hole in the head!.
You really have been reading too many tabloids if you genuinely think a few inflatables crossing the Channel is one of the main issues facing this country.
Don’t worry Seely you won’t have to worry in six weeks time. All we get from you is words and no action
Yes, but as long as the shareholders get a dividend then all is well Bob.
That’s all that matters to a Tory. As he knows.
Sitting MP .. I sincerely hope it is soon outgoing MP .. action not words .. from the new incoming island MP . Letters do nothing PopUp never understood that ..
He’s called the sitting MP because all he’s done for the past 7 years is sit on his backside making false promises.
Go back to sleep Bob. Too little, too late. Get yourself a proper job and leave us be.
Has the council got any say on how the ferry companies operate in regards to minimum service?
Aswell as the MP making it an issue (years to late) surely the Council and big business should be also holding them to account?
It feels like we are being held to ransom these days just to go to the mainland.
Got quoted £117 for a day return for next Sunday, luckily I managed to get this down to £60 with a voucher but next time I might not be so lucky.
I hope other wannabe MP’s are taking note.
What we need is a part public ownership of these services with a minimum service requirement and a fixed price island rate.
Private for-profit businesses. Nobody has any power to hold them to account, and never will.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying and anyone who believes them is a gullible fool.
No, neither the council,nor any one else, except the shareholders, have any say at all.
They are a private company, they don’t have to provide any service at all, & only do so, because they make money out of it.
The govt could regulate, but Bob has already been told by the CON dept minister for transport, that they won’t (it’s not the CONservative way)
You’ll probaly find that cancelled and the alternative will be higher
you ask Has the council got any say on how the ferry companies operate in regards to minimum service? don’t ask them they can’t run a floating bridge
Soon to be “ex mp”, Too little too late.
Meanwhile in other news, dear old Bob was out today in Yarmouth filming a propoganda( sorry, election ) video, while studiously avoiding any interaction with we plebs( sorry, electors), even in safe Tory-voting Yarmouth. One can’t help but think with his record, he would have been more at home in a Rotten Borough, like Newtown.
Once Labour win the Elecion they will nationalise the Ferries !!
Then your worst fears will come to fruition as the ferry would be run by the unions….
No, they won’t.
Too many other things to fix in Tory Broken Britain.
If only. But that would require funds which Westminster/Whitehall do not have.
Wightlinks apology is not good enough but his apology for eating half a sausage is. What a total hypocrite
Yeah doesn’t slag off Red Funnel though considering his Brother is the CEO of them!!
it says here that the CEO of Red Funnel is Fran Collins. That’s the sausage-munching kangaroo court denier’s brother?
Did you actually read the article?
“Next week, prior to Parliamentary dissolution, I will be publishing figures on how often Red Funnel cancel services based on staffing shortages or poor servicing.”
No, he’s not. If you’re going to slag off Dr Bob (and I’d be the last person to stop you) at least get the facts right.
Fran Collins is the CEO of Red Funnel.
Us Island residents should be entitled to cheaper Ferry fares.
Ah, “entitled”. Probably a word best avoided in the current climate.
Why do you think that?
Because we are surrounded by water and from time to time want to
travel off the island.
You don’t travel to the mainland so why should you get cheaper ferry fares
Because we are surrounded by water and from time to time want to
travel off the island.
Used to get reduced fares on ferries with proof of residency in bygone years.
Oh shut up Bob… You can’t change a private company just because you don’t like it.
I think it is Bob who is “Not good enough”
Far too many loyal Conservative life long voters on the Island will ensure half sausage keeps his seat as an MP
Probably the most accurate comment on here…
Labour are already complacent about an election win but many, many voters (me included) still think they are bot to be trusted and when it comes down to it they will vote the same way as they did last election.
Blair and Corbyn leave an unforgettable legacy that limp wristed Starmer along with his chavvy second in command have their work cut out.
Dare we believe we won’t see his face all over the local press in six weeks time?
He could quite easily compare his critisism of Wightlink (never his beloved Red Funnel who have alot more disruption) to his time as MP.
Waited 5 years and this is his best ?? Seely out 4/7/2024
Well teapot bob..its YOU thats not good enough!!!! You’ve had years too address these robdog ferry company’s behaviour.
Your out ..lets get someone in whos only for the islanders yea?too little …way too late
Too little too late Bob! I hope you’ve booked your ferry for 5 July?
Half saussage doesn’t give a fig… all he wants is the photo op. Still not voting Conservative no matter how many photo ops I see.