By Isle of Wight Observer
The Island’s MPs are convinced the government is finally taking the Island’s ferry woes seriously, despite a letter suggesting it is not prepared to act.
In an unsigned letter to an Islander who had written to the Department for Transport (DfT) about the recent round-table meeting held in Cowes, it says that, whilst the meeting, which included Maritime Minister, Mike Kane, had made some progress, including the establishment of a Transport Infrastructure Forum, it added: “Commercial decisions on company ownership and pricing remain a matter for the companies concerned and the Department is unable to comment or intervene.” It went on to say: “The Government is also clear that any Government intervention into the Isle of Wight ferry market, including nationalisation or the introduction of Public Service Obligations, will not be considered.”
Public Service Obligations are used by government to ensure minimum levels of service, often in the transport, energy or postal sectors. The letter is dated April 29 and was published on the Wightlink Users Facebook page.
As well as the Minister, the round-table meeting on April 23 was attended by both Island MPs, the CEO and the leader of the IW Council, the ferry operators and other stakeholders.
IW East MP, Joe Robertson, said: “Governments of all colours always say no – until they say yes!
“Despite what this letter says, the Government is already intervening in the Isle of Wight ferry market. The DfT has agreed to look at our evidence relating to pricing, timetabling, reliability/punctuality, and socio-economic impact on the Island. There was further agreement that a local board, chaired by a DfT representative, with both MPs, the IW Council leader, the ferry companies and other local stakeholders, would look at the same issues to see how much agreement can be reached locally before the Minister returns.
“The ferry companies now need to act – something they have failed to do over the last 20 years. If they do not, I am confident that the Government is prepared to force their hand, otherwise the Minister would not be returning to see how much progress we can make by consent.
“The previous Government offered £45 million to the Isles of Scilly to help build a new ferry, and it subsidised our ferries during the Covid pandemic, so there is precedent for government involvement already. I will continue to make the case that the private equity model is broken, and
Islanders are suffering the effects of that.”
IW West MP, Richard Quigley, was also confident about the prospects of change coming. He said: “The round-table meeting is just the beginning; the DfT and Minister Kane left in no doubt of the issues Islanders have with cross-Solent transport.
“This is the first time the department and a minister have visited the Island to meet with the ferry companies and stakeholders. As far as I’m concerned, nothing is off the table for finding a solution to high prices, frequency and reliability. I thank the Minister for taking the situation seriously and look forward to the next steps.
“Campaigners for a fixed link claimed that the letter meant that there was no option other than the only “realistic solution to cross-Solent transport”.