There has been a lot of talk recently about the Island’s ferry services deteriorating. Last week, the IW Observer took to the streets of Newport to have a chat with Island residents about the state of our ferry services. We found that nobody had a good word to say about the services. Here is a selection of what people said:

Vivian, Newport
“Utterly unreliable. It’s continued from the pandemic; it doesn’t feel as though it has improved at all. I really don’t know of a solution; they probably need upgrading, a better management structure, and good reliable staff. And these are the things you would need to run any business!”

Judith, Ryde (NO PIC)
“They can charge what they like and nobody can do anything about it. You either pay what they tell you the cost is, or you’re stuck! I’d like to know what they’re doing with the ridiculous amounts they charge. They’re obviously not repairing the ferries, because they keep claiming they’re broken down. They’re not taking on more staff, but they always say they’re missing an intrinsic member of crew. There’s no accountability, and there needs to be. Put them in the public domain so that there is more stability, so they can’t charge people what they like.”

Dorian, Carisbrooke
“It is a total disgrace. You can’t go to a gig on the mainland; you can’t go to the theatre, without having to book a hotel. They need to sort it out ASAP, and hopefully our new MPs will sort it. There should be at least a midnight back every night. You get stuck in either Fishbourne or Cowes, and there’s no buses, so you can’t get anywhere unless you drive, and if you go to a gig you want to have a drink!”

Stephen, Newport
“It’s prohibitive to leaving the Island; when going on holiday you have to factor the price in. Even day trips are just obscene. The fixed link is the ultimate solution, but it’s going to take decades and cost lots. Short-term, one of the providers has to go bust for anything to be done. Red Funnel, for example, had to sell a ferry because they needed the money, and now they’ve said they’re launching a new electric ferry. Where is that money coming from? People don’t want an all electric ferry; they want a cheap, reliable service.

Nicola Symmonds, East Cowes (NO PIC)
“I live in East Cowes, so it’s a big issue for me. I get stuck in traffic all the time down York Avenue, because if a ferry is cancelled, you get all the cars backing up the road. I’m on a group on-line, and a lot of people on there come here on holiday and say the ferries have cost them £200! I just think it’s ridiculous, it’s hurting business.”

Scarlet and Klaudia, Newport
“When planning a trip, the ferries stress me out so much. I never used to wonder whether the Red Jet was going to be on.
“And especially if you’re going on holiday and you have a flight booked, you have to think whether you should travel up a day earlier in case of a cancellation! And then you have to pay for the hotel for that overnight stay.”
“Me and my mum went to see Beyoncé last June, and even then we got an earlier boat just in case the one we wanted was cancelled. That just shows it’s been going on for over a year now.”

Paddy, Rookley (NO PIC)
“I have lived on the Island since 1958.
“I used to travel on the ferries every day. In 1990, my wife had a brain tumour. I travelled to Southampton hospital every day, and Red Funnel were fantastic. The last time I went, I couldn’t believe it was the same company. Red Funnel need to learn something about being welcoming, efficient and polite.
“Then you hear Wightlink saying they’ve cancelled a ferry because they’re missing one man. Well, the only man who has that level of responsibility is the captain! Tourism wise, they’re all doing harm to the Island.
“I’m against a bridge or a tunnel. We’re an Island; let’s stay an Island.”

Diane McEvoy, Newport (NO PIC)
“It’s shambolic. For what you pay, you don’t get the proper service. They’re always either breaking down, not on time, and there’s always excuses. It costs too much for Island residents, and they hike the prices up in summer. They should be lowering it, and it’s disgraceful they’re not. The government needs to get involved because, at the moment, they do what they want. They can charge what they like, when they like, take the services off when they like, because there’s no comeback for them. It’s killed tourism, and they get away with it, because what choice have we got?”

Harri, Newport
“The ferries are very inconvenient, and too expensive. It makes it hard for us to go away, because the prices can sometimes be the same price as the actual holiday! It’s the most expensive link; getting to Ireland is cheaper. It needs to be moderated; maybe a fixed link is the answer? Or maybe just fixed prices, and cheaper rates for Island residents. We just need something to help us.”