AN INDEPENDENT study looking into the costs and benefits of a fixed road or rail link to the Island should be done according to a long-awaited report into the Isle of Wight’s transport needs.
A cross-Solent operators’ partnership board should also be formed so ferry firms and stakeholders can work together for their mutual benefit and for the economic well-being of the Island, the report stated.
The report, leaked to the County Press ahead of its official release later this morning (Wednesday), by the independent Transport Infrastructure Task Force (TITF) was commissioned in November 2014 and looks into the infrastructure challenges faced by the Island.
Chaired by transport expert, Christopher Garnett, the TITF has met with more than 40 organisations over the past eight months to talk about the challenges and opportunities that transport has for Islanders.
In his introduction to the report, Mr Garnett said: “As is to be expected, a lot of issues were raised, but the overriding issue was in relation to the service that the cross-Solent operators provide for the Island.
“The Island is an unusual position in the UK in that all the operators who provide the cross-Solent service are in the private sector and have no public service obligation and no service contract with the local authority or governing body.
“With a population of nearly 140,000, the Island is by far the largest Island in the UK not connected by a road bridge which currently has no direct influence on the provision of such a critical lifeline service.
“In many ways, the Island does get a good service, but for some, the fares are high and in some important respects, it does not provide the island with the service it needs.
“The TITF has made a critical recommendation to address this aspect and very much hopes that there can be a constructive dialogue between the Island and the operators to address the issues.”