By Press Release
Around 60 protestors – joined by Rosie, the dog – staged a demonstration on Ryde seafront last Saturday about Wightlink’s fares and services.
The Wightlink User Group (WUG), which organised the protest, is campaigning for free NHS travel and half-price fares for visiting friends and relations, fairer ferry fares for Islanders and later services with train connectivity. Armed with placards and a megaphone, the group outlined its aims, handed out leaflets and encouraged passing cars to show their support by blowing their horns – with considerable success.
The group was set up by Bronwyn Hamilton Brown who said: “Our third demonstration was a great success.
“Whilst the CEO of Wightlink states that we are an unauthorised group (because we have not been authorised by them?), our group of more than 4,000 members continues to fight for affordable fares for Islanders, friends, family and visitors to the Island. We also fight for fixed and affordable fares for those needing medical care on the mainland and for all our young people, to enable them to realise their potential with opportunities not available on the Island.
“Lastly, we urge Wightlink to continue with the recently reinstated later night cats, which are threatened in 2024, and extend the 8pm service on the Yarmouth to Lymington routes until later in the evening to improve connectivity.”
During the demonstration, it was announced that Isle of Wight MP, Bob Seely, had become a member of the group and had “made a generous donation to help us cover our costs”. When it was revealed to be £20, there was widespread laughter from the group.
One familiar face among the protestors was Vix Lowthian, who will be standing for the Green Party for the new Isle of Wight East parliamentary seat in the next general election. She said: “Islanders have had enough. The cost of ferry fares is astronomical – and this is hitting residents hard who need to travel for work, to see family, or to get vital medical treatment.
“Our ferry services are essential public services – not cash cows for international corporations. We demand that Wightlink provide residents with fairer fares and that the government urgently enforce a public service obligation on our ferry companies so that we can afford to use them!”
You can find out more about WUG on their Facebook page.
WUG is part of book research
One keen observer of the Wightlink User Group’s campaign was journalist and author, Hetty O’Brien, who spent several days last week on the Island doing research for her book about private equity companies and the growing role that the industry plays in everyday life and the goods and services that people depend upon.
She said: “It has been really interesting to see the efforts of the Wightlink User Campaign. They clearly believe that the financial model of the ferry companies is not appropriate for a lifeline service.”
Hetty’s book is due to be published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Grand Central in Spring 2026. The title has not yet been finalised.