The independent organisation advocating for better cross-Solent travel describes ‘real progress’ having been made after a ‘heated’ discussion with the Island’s MP.
Bob Seely met for the first time with the Wightlink Users Group (WUG) last Tuesday (11th April) in a discussion that went on for longer than expected after a ‘frank’ exchange of views which was nonetheless ‘constructive’ and ‘productive’.
It could lead to meetings between WUG and transport ministers and other relevant parties before the end of the Summer recess including Baroness Vere, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Security.
It is hoped that these meetings will enable WUG to press for their demands for a reliable and affordable ferry service. This has resonated with Islanders, more than 1,000 of whom have joined the group.
In order to raise funds for their campaigning, including the costs of their website and potential travel costs to take the fight to Westminster, WUG has set up a crowdfunding page with an initial target of £2,500. There is no cost to joining the group but those in a position to contribute financially are being asked to do so.
a nobel cause,.. and one with a great need behind it…
However,…
we have a hugely corrupt tory government in power, and a sad little conservative MP to, laughingly, represent us.
Absolutely nothing will change, unless the result is financially beneficial to their friends, supporters and benefactors.
The best thing anyone can do to further the cause, is to vote this corrupt government out of power at the next election.
But vote for who? They are all corrupt. We need a bloody revolution to make real change now.
Get a bridge – without it, the Island is not going to prosper and will continue to deteriorate at the hands of the shareholders and owners of the duopoly that exists at the moment. It won’t happen in my lifetime, I don’t think, but it really is the only way to get the Island on it’s feet..
of course there is nothing stopping people moving to the mainland.
perhaps these people who expect cheap fares and more services would like to explain how a company does that, when they won’t be able to cover costs of running the business with reduced revenue and higher operating costs
the last time this issue cropped up – wightlink put up a picture of one solitary car on its later car ferry service and highlighted that no one was using the services, so why operate them.
clearly these lot whining at wightlnk don’t run a sizeable business.
“one solitary car on its later car ferry service and highlighted that no one was using the services”
Yeah, but that’s hardly surprising with the amount they charge….
when it costs more, for a return 40 minute trip, to get off the Island for a couple of weeks, than it does, for an 8 hour return crossing to France….
Yes, it does cost money to run the ferries, but WL & RF are run solely to make massive profits for their owners & share holders… they could run @ a considerably lower cost and still make money.
Why is it that every other Island in the UK, either has a free bridge, or a subsidised ferry service
Why the f**k should I leave my family and friends because Tories want to turn the island into a nursing home?
nothing to do with tories or any politicians for that matter – the island has been the same for over 50 years
So what if only one car was booked on the ferry? It meant that someone wanted to travel which is what the ferry companies are there for. You don’t hear the ferry companies complaining when they are making vast amounts of money during the summer months do you. The busy periods must subsidize the quiet periods and at the end of the day if one person wants to travel on a scheduled crossing, the operator should run the crossing.
Yes all very true if they were running their buisness on the premmis of doing what’s right morally. But like any other profit making buisness they are running their buisness on doing what’s right financially.
day return on wightlink £18.80 – in other words £9.40 each way – hardly breaking the bank
if you are a regular user and commute to work 5 days a week – an annual season ticket works out at £4 per crossing. bargain.
10 multilinks are £80 – or £8 per crossing – cheap.
these people moaning at wightlink don’t think twice about paying the price for their daily tobacco, alcohol, junk food and mobile phone contracts at far more a week.
It’s the car cost that is the killer… return journet May 22nd, >£80 return for a small car.
Ha that nothing i saw £120 one way couple weeks back..car day reurn how is that allowed..criminal.
And the running costs are the same all the time so that is not a reason to charge more at certain times
Try that 10 times in a month. Now £180 a month just to keep a job.
Maybe you lot should wake up and try booking a train journey on the mainland. You will then see how much it costs to travel. You are all living in the past. Ferry prices are very reasonable.
What’s their profit margin? Private company has duty to its shareholders to earn money.
If you want cheap, you need public transport funded by taxes hence able to operate at a deficit, in return providing benefits of increased mobility.
Private company, unlike government, will always hold profit over esoteric metrics such as nation’s one mobility.
Plus, UK is very car-dependant and transport of 3000kg of steel does cost obviously more than a human or a cyclist – about 200 times!
People literally wanted all this. Try to say anything pro public transport / against cars and see reactions you get.
Yet I bet we’ll subsidise drivers here again while cycling budget is cut by 75% by the gov. “The war on cars”, lol.
wightlinks full accounts to end march 2022 show…as shown on companies house website.
after tax profit – £13.6 million
other comprehensive income/expense – £4.7 million
taxes paid on profit £1.6 million
meaning £18.3 million in the coffers for the year, after all taxes, charges and expenses.
tucked away on page 9 of the accounts “following the year end in June 2022, the company declared a dividend of £8 million in total
the above means that wightlink made profits of £351,923 a week in the 52 weeks to the end of march 2022, before the dividend.
Define ‘constructive and productive’ please
I’m sure I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I have no problem berthing my boat on either side of the Solent and I find the berthing fees are always allowable in my expenses claims. Affordable and convenient.
What I cannot understand is why it costs more if you are staying a longer period on the island or mainland. I can understand cheaper day returns but why cheaper if you return after 2/3 days than if you stay say for a week?
As both ferry companies clearly collude on pricing structures, surely this should be looked into by the governments competition or monopolies commission or whatever it is called now?
Nothing will happen £120 one way day return the other week yarmouth to lymington..how can that be right £120 !!!!!!
We must make a profit somehow.
Could we have a smaller picture of this man in the future please!! Nearly chocked on my water as can’t afford anything else because of the Torys