Virgin boss Branson asked to buy Wightlink

WELL - if his ferry service is as good as his Scottish Train Service, I think I'd prefer Wightlink

Also, to Steve Jones, I congratulate you on finding Wightlink's service good and their timings accurate. But surely you must realise that you are somewhat in a minority regarding your praise of them?? The Island-wide dislike of Wightlink's monopoly is hardly news,and the good experiences of one man do not make a compelling argument for believing otherwise. And although you make a good point about the discounts available via season tickets, the prices still remain high even with the discounts, effectively preventing most people from using the ferry on a regular basis. If you were unemployed and receiving £140 per fortnight, would you still defend the pricing of £180 per month, or over £1500 per year?? The ferry is not just for those commuting for work, it is the only viable transport link to the mainland for people of every background and financial status, and I know that many people consider it impossible to leave the Island on a whim, instead saving money to afford to t

There seems to be an enormous presumption on the part of many here that Richard Branson and Virgin taking over Wightlink would lead to an improvement in the pricing structure. Even if this ill-conceived plea were to be successful, Virgin has not made itself into an international brand by cutting prices and charging less. Plus the assumption of any purchaser will be that if Wightlink can get away with charging these prices, so can they. And at what point did Cllr Dupre suddenly decide it was his remit to decide the fate of IOW transort for us all, without any discussion or referrendum on the matter?
And as for those advocating a fixed link, you would invite the eventual demise of the Island's unique character as we become more over-spill housing areas for Southampton and Portsmouth. Whilst not arrogant enough to want to keep 'riff-raff' off of the Island (the 1800's are over, BTW), I do want to see us retain our unspoilt countryside that creates the tourist industry we all rely on.

I don't know why Wightlink get this negative comment. I use them all the time and find them to be one of the most efficient companies I have ever come across. Most ferries are on time and on and off loaded incredibly well. The service is very frequent. If you buy islander multi passes the prices are OK. If Branson bought them he'd probably re-brand the boats, put in red and grey upholstery and up the prices. By the way I don't work for Wightlink but all I can say is keep up the good work.

Mmmmm.....be careful what you wish for!!!!!!!!!

How can the Wightlink Spokesperson say the islanders are not held to ransom. Wightlink seem to have the monopoly on ferries along with Hover travel and Red Funnel, how else are we gonna get to the mainland? Rubber dinghy? Or maybe a tunnel linking us to the mainland. For gods sake Wightlink wake up and smell the coffee. If all your passengers decided to boycott your service for one whole day you would be set to lose a lot.
Hopefully Richard Branson will take this proposal seriously. Give Wightlink a run for their money

This would most certainly be a better move than the present arrangement.
Maybe even Serco or Stagecoach group should buy it or even Jargalinga as they just deal in ferries and the sort of crossings we have here.
Come on Andrew Turner stand up to this lot at Wightlink and get rid of them.
Maybe Wightlink should be split up into idivigial companies so that the Islanders could have a real say in how it is run/
Otherwise it's a bridge or tunnel.

Great idea, I travel on Virgin Trains and Virgin Atlantic and I can't find fault with either of them.

I doubt it'll happen though, too small for him.

At last a man from the real world who is likely to give value for money ,its just what the Island needs someone with a fresh look at what is keeping the Island in the backwoods of life.

Well at last a great idea, people can mock !!! I seem to remember he runs a successful airline and train company, so why not a ferry company as well, at least it will be run by someone who cares, unlike Wightlink

Ask if he wants to buy Southern Vectis too...

Ask, not are. Bad phone, poor eyesight :)

Am I reading the Candy Press by mistake? I might write to Alan Sugar to are if he wants to run Southern Vectis and maybe Pete Stringfellow could take over Colonel Bogeys?

If Wightlink were for sale, would the people who feel so passionately about the ferry fares put there money where there mouth is and buy into it? Are there not enough people on the island to club together and buy out Wightlink and actually have the control of prices, service etc? I know I would....

so what this story is really about is a few councillors writing to a rich bloke to help out over ferry prices and running.......not much of a story...wonder how much RB knows about it...guess he has far more lucrative plans for his railways and transport buisness than lossing money on the IOW Ferry

I think its very exciting having Richard on board. He is such a progressive thinker, and such a keen balloonist, that I half wonder if he isn't contemplating a balloon service instead of a ferry service!

so how is mr strauss a SNOB for mentioning riff raff but you are 'far from it' for saying we have it in abundance ? i'm lost

Far from it MR Miller! My point was, that the comment was made about keeping riff-raff away from the island. I was merely stating that we have enough here anyway. I was just wondering why the poster even had to mention the so-called "riff-raff"! What has that got to do with the extortionate ferry fares?

so mr lennon, let me get this right. strauss is a snob when he mentions riff raff but you say we already have enough ? so which is it ? if strauss is a snob then so, kind sir, are you

Bored , drunk kids with no job prospects are far less well behaved than those with hope. If you think the larger towns on the island are havens from the mainland you are living in denial. Without sustainable employment , the youth of the island will have to leave. A bridge may not be the answer, but a monopolised ferry service charging increasingly outrageous fares certainly is not.

@ Paul Strauss: "We do not need a tunnel or a bridge - extortionate ferry fares keep the riff-raff out."
My God! What an absolute SNOB! It's a bit late to spout off something like that! Have you walked around Ryde or Newport late at night on a Friday or Saturday? We have enough of your so-called "riff-raff" already! Have a look around you. It's the 21st CENTURY!! The island needs to move forward! Let's have a bridge or tunnel! Fight the rip-off ferry companies!

Very good Augustus!

well mr hines if we are to look more closely into the whole family situation it is a little known fact that his romance with carolyn, the daughter of judge pickles, was curtailed due to the complications involved with their surname when wedded. so its not all beer and skittles for the rich and famous

Its little known that Mr Branson's great grandfather, Ernest Branston, created the recipe for Branston's Pickle, and became a wealthy man because of it. However, when young Richard started out in the seventies with his record lable he felt that the association with a condiment was not very 'rock and roll' and he dropped the 't' from his name. The rest as they say is history.

PT - actually, I have had to leave the Island for work, and I come back on a weekly basis, at the weekend, so no, I dont recieve a discount, nor do I think I should get one- - please point me to the paragraph where I have written those exact words and I will correct. People do choose to live there, you are correct - they do not, and I repeat do not, choose to be held to ransom by the likes of Wightlink. there in lays the difference.

@ Paul Strauss - industry doesn’t always mean horrid concrete plants, power stations and the like - it could be in the form of business parks, containing well constructed offices, corporate head offices and the like. I agree the unspoilt nature is indeed the essence of its appeal, and people "like me" are happy to go to work, and pay into a system that contributes to keeping it looking like this. However, the IOW has a reducing amount of people "like me" paying into the system, to keep it looking pretty, and something does need to be done to encourage growth - which comes back to my point of a fixed link, OR competitive ferry pricing (and I mean competitive, not £120 return) to encourage mainland investors to spend their money on the Island (as it will be more accessible) who will employ local people, who pay into a system, which pays out to keep said Island looking as beautiful as it should do. Hope that is a little clearer for you.

well said @Chris Moore someone talking some sense!

@ augustus - I do indeed agree ref the NIMBY brigade placing a block on a lot of what may be viewed as good/dynamic ideas - in terms of where it would be loctated, I am unsure - I was simply meaning a perm solution (or affordable ferry solution) would stimulate growth in current industry on the IOW and, over time, potentially place it on the map as a dynamic area, which is easy and indeed flexible to access for all.

Mr Moore, I do not dispute that some form of economic regeneration is desirable here, although I can't in my mind alloy tourism and industry, as the Island's unspoilt nature is the essence of its appeal to tourists. I simply believe that a fixed link will hasten to our shores the social disorder that blights the rest of the UK and from which the Island is largely spared. That is what people like you must realise, and the reality of that, is that it comes at a cost.

no matter who owns it they need to give Island residents a 50% concession and also large concessions for close family who live on the mainland, but big business have been allowed to do whatever they want by the last two governments so this will not be achieved unless the Island residents fight it

I have no idea why it was removed, it wasn't offensive or sarcastic unlike some...

understood, why removed ? was it offensive ? or was it a call centre operative in india advising you of the benefits of travel via holyhead ?

@ Augustus miller, there was another post which I was replying to which appears to have now been removed. I do apologise if I am keeping you up.

mr moore, whenever there is any innovation proposed for the island that would create jobs (windmills and asphalt plants spring to mind) the nimby brigade take to the streets to demonstrate. so where are we going to locate this 'industry'

@ Paul Strauss - keep the riff-raff out? Yes, what a wonderful idea. And also continue to discourage economic growth and the force tourists to go elsewhere, as the ferries remain far too expensive. It’s 2012, not 1912; times have changed, and the sooner people like you realise that the IOW needs industry and tourism to survive, regardless if that is through more attractive ferry fares or a bridge, the sooner it can begin to regenerate itself.

I met Richard in the seventies and he seemed like a very nice chap. Personally I'm glad he's done so well for himself.

please mr hartland, who are you astounded is staggered ?, its not really clear, and just exactly how many times are you going to bleat on about call centres and holyhead ? it is already rather tedious only acouple of hours in. i think i'll print it off and keep it on my bedside table should i ever run out of horlicks

Sorry Martin Sauders. IT will NEVER happen PUGH and his buddies in the torie party and this island council will not allow IT. Dont forget we DO NOT have a say HERE on the island. ITs run for pugh and his torie buddies ONLY.

We do not need a tunnel or a bridge - extortionate ferry fares keep the riff-raff out.

Time for a bridge or a tunnel if you ask me! If we want this island to move forward we have to do away with these money grabbing rip-off ferries companies who are crippling this island, time to get out of the 70's and in to the real word.

We could be Virgin on the ridiculous here.

'Astounded' your'e staggered? Not as staggered as I was when expecting to be dealing with someone who had some geographical knowledge of the UK (as they were working at a call centre dealing with a UK transport system) and then being told that I would have to go via Holyhead!

I obviously will agree on the ferry prices though. I do not understand why the cost fluctuates so much. It should be a standard flat pre-booked fare of around £40 return for a car irrespective of what time you travel in my opinion. I don't think the Wight Rider fares fluctuate in the same way do they?

Mr Branson lost a few brownie points with me when I watched him on TV recently being asked about re-nationalising the railways. His answers were very vague. Also, I once rang the Virgin Trains customer service line to book some train tickets and found I was talking to someone in Asia. Not only did I find it difficult to understand what they were saying, I was told I would have to go via Holyhead to travel from/to the Isle of Wight. Not what you would expect when dealing with a UK transport system.

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.