From David Atkin, East Cowes:

If, as Angela Hewitt says, (CP letters, 08-12-17) I got my facts wrong regarding the bus laybys, then of course I apologise unreservedly on that count.

My entire reason for writing was to counter a totally uncalled for sarcastic letter about a very forward-thinking scheme,which would give both sides of the fixed-link debate a compromise solution.

This idea would give 24/7 access between the Island and the mainland, free of weather constraints and,most importantly, without adding a single extra car on to our already overburdened roads.

I think Cathy Foulkes’s idea of a fixed train link is very imaginative and deserves more than a summary brush off.

I don’t think her scheme will ever get off the ground because of the sheer expense involved.

If her scheme is for passenger traffic only and does not address the important question of freight traffic, it will probably attract little or no investment, so we have no need to worry about our Island status for many years to come.

I am against a fixed link which would allow unrestricted road access to the Island, for the many and varied reasons already stated but would probably favour a public transport link. as proposed by Cathy Foulkes if that ever became an option.