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PARK-AND-SAIL TO ELECTRIC ISLAND

Friday, May 16, 2008
Spar Letter of the Week
From David Parkinson, Sun Trap, New Road, Wootton Bridge:
THERE are times in a community’s development when making small adjustments to our way of life are no longer helpful and we need to consider the sort of major change which involves creative solutions and provides longer-term benefits.
I have been watching with some dismay the increasing disagreement on tourism development between the IW Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry and the IW Council and the announcement by one of our key ferry operators it wishes to substantially increase the level of traffic its vessels transport to the Island over the next decade.
These two issues could well be drawn together and this proposal may provide a focus which would revitalise the Island as a tourist destination, as well as removing the need for additional ferry capacity and reducing wear and tear on our roads.
Picture, if you will, a natural development of the Eco-Island principle. The Island becomes a holiday destination with unique features.
As a visitor, you park your car in Portsmouth Continental Ferry Terminal — there is, after all, plenty of spare capacity in that location. You board the ferry and travel to the Island with your luggage.
On arrival you collect one of a fleet of hundreds of small electric cars, which you use while staying here.
The proposal requires a number of parties to work together and a several decisions to be made:
• Agreement the Island needs an active approach to its Eco-Island principles.
• A commitment to limit the number of visitors’ cars — by legislation if necessary.
• Persuasion of a major player — Stelios, Branson or a development syndicate — to invest the necessary money to provide the fleet of electric cars, the parking facilities and a small number of locations where batteries could be replaced/changed over.
• Arrangements to use spare capacity at Portsmouth Continental Ferry terminal for visitor parking.
While the advantages are clear, the question is whether any of the parties has the courage and leadership to implement such a scheme and the capacity to work together as an effective team.
I’d be willing to talk to any or all of the parties, should they wish to explore this in more detail.
• The Spar Letter of the Week is chosen by the editor from the letters submitted to the County Press for publication. The decision solely lies with the editor.