By Isle of Wight Observer
Last week, the IW Observer set out the stark decline in cross-Solent ferry services since the last official examination in 2009, when the Office of Fair Trading found that Wightlink’s Portsmouth–Fishbourne route operated 37 daily sailings. Today, that number stands at 25 – a service cut of more than 30 per cent. This week, Wightlink has proposed even further cuts.
In a letter sent to the company, and published on Facebook, IW East MP Joe Robertson warns that the latest plans would “make a bad situation worse”, reducing resilience, limiting choice for Islanders, and further weakening the Island’s economic connectivity. He says the proposals “cannot be justified” when services have already been cut to levels far below those examined in the last official review.
The timing is significant. Only days ago, Mr Robertson secured a breakthrough in the House of Commons when Prime Minister Andy Burnham invited him to “bring me a proposal” on ferry regulation – the first time any Prime Minister in more than 20 years has signalled openness to direct intervention in the cross Solent market.
We also reported last week that our two Island MPs may find support from Louise Haigh, now Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who worked closely with Richard Quigley when she was Transport Secretary and is known to be sympathetic to the Island’s long standing concerns. Today, in the House of Commons Chamber, that prediction was proved right.
Responding to Mr Quigley who asked about funding and investment on the Island, Ms Haigh said: “I will ensure that fixing his ferry is top of my to do list.” Her new role gives her oversight of cross government priorities – meaning ferry reform now sits at the heart of No.10’s strategic agenda.
With Wightlink proposing fresh cuts, both Island MPs now have a clear mandate from the Prime Minister and a powerful ally at the top of government. Monthly ferry round table meetings begin later this month, and the pressure for regulation – or more radical structural change – is intensifying.
If the ferry companies believed the Island’s campaign for fairer cross-Solent transport would fade away, this week’s developments suggest the opposite.
The IW Observer has approached both MPs, the leader of the IW Council Jonathan Bacon and Wightlink’s Chief Executive Katy Taylor for comment.
