Subsidy unlikely for Solent travel

A sovereign fund, do we have one?

I'm sure an enterprising developer could raise the money required to build a fixed link from the City or a Sovereign fund. Crossing charged at just half the present ferry charge would be an attractive long-term proposition

I am not anti bridge, quite the opposite sometimes, but I really don't feel it's the answer. I don't agree with this ridiculous situation we find ourselves in where we find that ferry services just diminish once 9pm passes us. That has to be looked at, it makes no sense. I would be surprised if the ferry companies stick to that. I also get hacked off with the Red Jet sometimes (which I've used daily for 11 years) and their reliability. But in general I think they do a good job, maybe a tad too expensive on some of the services but apart from that, not bad. I can get to London in 2 hours using the Red Jet and connecting train to London and I think that is brilliant. I think getting on and off the ferry makes the Island special and if services are frequent and competitive there is no reason why we cannot be as effective and efficient as the South-East. I love living here and I love working on the mainland and I think we are very lucky! Trying living in Rochdale!

We shall see :-)

I have to go to England, think you just said it all. ha ha ha .

I dont think so.

Mike, you have woken up 16 days to early! BIG Finance!!! ha ha! now the Japanese are going to finance this project. Oh no, they're not because there isn't a project. So who is going to start this project? Who will fund a feasabilty report with no idea of where or when any investment will be coming from? Dream on Mike, you will never drive across a fixed link, neither will I nor any of my present living relatives.

Now have a nice day, and keep feeding those ferry operators!

Neil my last posting to you applies. Get out into the world and look at BIG finance. Japan providing the finance for the Koreans to build something in a Egypt as an example. Project project project FIRST, THEN think finance.

Sorry if you do not understand me. Maybe you haven't looked at BIG finance outside the High Street Bank?

We will leave it there that it is outside your picture frame.

Have a nice day. Sorry it's raining. I have to go to England, easier of course if we had the bridge already.

I am not especially pro bridge but it is interesting how the Isle of Skye got a bridge for a population of less than 10,000! The controversy over the toll charged and the fact it was subsequently bought out from the private ownership by the Scottish parliament and the toll ended shows how useless we are at lobbying our laughably called 'representatives!'Obviously the Skye bridge is a mere trifle compared to that required for us but then there are 100,000 people who live here and even i today's subdued tourist market i would have thought more visitors here than Skye. Food for thought isnt it that we get the representation we deserve! Now who said that?

Mike yet again you make very ill informed assumptions. You only see what you want to see and hear even less. Just a suggestion, buy a copy of the F T then talk to me when you have read it. If you need any help understanding anything ,let me know.

neil, please go and get out into the world, you are showing yourself up.

There is more to the world than the Isle of Wight ...... honest

TIm, don't think you understood. I certainly have nothing to fear, By all means have your referendum but whats the point, who is going to build a fixed link, where is the finance coming from? You clearly have no idea of the current economic climate where banks won't lend money and them who have got it won't spend it, so yes you have your vote.

PS - Are we Foreigners??

I agree with Tim. It would cost nothing to add a question to the May Council Election - "Do you favour a fixed link?" It would not get a bridge built, but It might encourage more people to vote. (3 months worth of Foreign Aid would pay for that fixed link)

In other news, bears still c**p in the woods.

I don't understand why people thought it would be subsidised? It's a private company. It's like asking Tesco to be subsidised as you can't afford to buy your milk and break.

There is only one solution - a council ran ferry service. A bridge/Tunnel would be too expensive against its income. An additional ferry service would mean the government can provide subsidies to assist in it;'s running, plus competition would lower prices at the other 2 firms. (3 if you include the biscuit tin with a skirt)

There again, I forgot this is the isle of wigfht, what I meant to say was:
Rabble, rabble, rabble, they took our jobs, Rabble, rabble, rabble

we could have a referendum on anything you wanted, say free bus travel for islanders, and there could be 100% in favour but what would it achieve? you wouldn't get free bus travel! same with a fixed link, even if 100% in favour nobody would build it! Until you accept that nobody driving today will ever cross the Solent via a fixed link, all you will do is keep the likes of Mr Crowe banging on about it at every occasion. yawn yawn!

Mr.Scott, there many types of fools, which type are you? but thank you for your welcome

I can't understand what Neil Jacks has to fear from a referendum on a fixed link, unless he knows that he holds a minority view. Regarding finance previous projects such as the Skye bridge have been PFI funded, I would imagine that a fixed link across the Solent could be similarly funded. I can't see an ailing ferry service being attractive to investors.

After reading the comments BY our so called council leader PUGH. IT just proves that with him batting for a better service by the ferry companies is like asking a turkey to vote for christmas. In one word USELESS as usual, ROLL on MAY.

For now I think its important to maintain pressure on ferry operators to provide a value for money user friendly service and to concentrate on infrastucture, play to our strengths and self promote the unique attributes of the Island.

So the future is .... 'As is now'?

I think central goverment has made it clear, it will not be getting involved in this matter, so what chance of them commissioning a fixed link?
I don't see the point in a referendum on a fixed link, there is no one wanting to build it.
Whats this Real estate thing, If recent land sales are anything to go by, its not worth much anyway.

The lack of night time ferries arises from two closely linked items:- Low demand caused by cost and frequency issues which in turn cause increased costs and decreased frequentcy, the late morning and early afternoon weekday ferries will probably be the next to be cut

We couldn't vote the right people in if we wanted too ...

They would only have to ask their overlord peers for the same sort of monetry assistance, perks & bonuses would all be dictated to us from way on top, you just want another man to carry down the word of the almighty on a stone plaque, the next 10 commandments we should call them.

Maybe a bit more import / export & we could keep those night ferries running for while longer.

With the Council elections due in May wouldn't it be a good idea to have a referendum on a fixed link at the same time?

All I ask from the ferry companies is that they provide a service which supports what they charge, and they do not. I pay £305.50 for a monthly ticket on the Red Jet and had to endure two days of an hourly service as they could not berth in Cowes. Believe you me this was to reduce costs, there were no issues berthing and it wasn't rough. Tonight I got on the 1845 from SO and we were all told to get off as it has broken down. They have also cancelled further sailings tonight due to sickness. Therefore what I am paying for? It's a rip-off!

What a **** this junior government bloke was. 'The PFI is good for you and the lovely ferries are good for your economy.' So that's OK then, thank you Sir, what an exhausting day you must have had.

No sign of Turner, so we assume he didn't get an invite do we? The Tory council agenda is obviously very different from the Tory Mp's. David Pugh praises the ferry operators every five minutes, at least Turner asks awkward questions. Perhaps Pugh's lining up a ferry consultancy after May? I'm sure Wightlink know a genius when they spot one, and Rusell Kew, rhymes with Pugh, the Wightlink boss, is already the council's Rep on the economic partnership. No doubt after giving the Island's schoolchildren the benefit of his great improvement talents, David could soon team up with him and help make the ferries run more profitably?

and no doubt they all had a scrummy lunch with lashings of ginger beer all at the expense of the council tax payer. said it all before waffle waffle blah blah waste of time get rid of poooo and vote someboby in who is not on the payrole

Geoffrey I think you will find that as soon as the bridge is built, or even sooner, then it will be the Fishbourne to Portsmouth Car Ferry which will be axed for the benefit of the real estate at each end :-)

Could anyone tell if a rumour is true that wightlink are considering axing the fast cat from Ryde to Portsmouth??

So between the time of him getting here & now he has left .. as it states that after the meeting Pugh says Blah blah blah etc, so anyway one morning & part of the afternoon to heavily discuss the PFI, & to debate the whole government stance on vital transport links.

So this does seem a bit naive to say that us island have no access to the mainland should ferry deals go the way their going .. higher prices .. less sailings ... heck lets scrap them all together.

Economic growth on this island is as likely as a surefall lottery win.

"But welcomed investment into tourism" .. this bloke doesn't come out with anything better than this. As transport secretary has he never heard of public transport of course not, he's rich, he's a chaufeurs & run arounds to do his work.

Sink the island before it gets anyworse .. maybe parliment hope were go away if they leave us out in the cold

Once again it becomes incumbent upon the general public to put this closed door meeting in its proper place. Not even the Trades Council was invited to take part and as there was a meeting with a Minister one would think the courtesy of an invitation to the island MP should have been extended. One can say that not only was there hot air but empty words about the "uniqueness and special characteristics" of the Isle of Wight said without any courage of conviction. What is expected from these elitist figures of authority and big business is for them to concede to the just demands for a proper guaranteed timetabled public ferry service at a fair price. This meeting has to be denounced for what it is, an irritating contempt for the citizens of this great island, an agreement between interested parties who do not share its common cause. This issue cannot be buried and will only heighten the demands of islanders for a low cost effective public ferry service.

"and welcomed the collective approach operators had taken to growing the ferry market "

So thats how you grow a market .... cut back on services and price customers out .... hell of a strategy.

Surprise, surprise - all that effort by our red-nosed blue-nose comes to nowt. AND, no surprise at the barrage of posts from the deluded bridge brigade which will begin..........NOW !!!!!!

another whitewash and brown envelope under the table day

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.