LETTERS From Mrs Diana Drayton, Brading:
MY daughter, on a rare visit from the mainland, read with incredulity, the article in last week’s County Press giving Wightlink’s reasons for cutting their services.
She reiterated what so many people are thinking. If the prices of the ferries were reduced, there would be a lot more passengers.
My family just cannot afford to visit the Island very often because of the exorbitant ferry fares so we have to travel to them to be able to see our grandchildren as it isn’t practical for them to travel late at night with young children to be able to take advantage of reduced rates.
A number of other people to whom we have spoken, say they have to help their children out with paying ferry fares to enable them to stay with them on the Island or else shop at Tesco to get vouchers to pay for the crossing.
Ferries seem to be continually going backwards and forwards during the day rarely full and yet it is impossible to attend theatres, etc. in the evening because the ferries finish so early.
Red Funnel puts surcharges on fares for anyone wishing to change the times of their travel and yet if there are spaces, what difference does it make?
It isn’t always possible to judge how long a journey will take, traffic hold ups, etc. With tourism figures on the Island down so much, the ferry companies seem to be holding us to ransom and strangling the life blood of visitors to and from the Island.
When is sense going to prevail and prices brought down to affordable rates so that residents are actually able to see their families and tourists made to feel welcome to boost the economy?