At Wednesday’s full council meeting, member of the public, Sarah Dover, will be putting the following question to the council.
Regarding potential pedestrian charges on the floating bridge:
Given that, first and foremost, floating bridge pedestrian charges is an example of irresponsible budgeting because IW Council’s maths are still wrong, because ANY pedestrian fee will LOSE the IW Council money, not make money, just as was determined 23 years ago when the Council then realised pedestrian fees were not profitable and were costing them money; and
Given that the IW Council has neither conducted proper assessments nor written a thorough, professionally executed business plan that would have shown that no new revenue would be generated and that this potentially debilitating action of the negative economic, social and environmental impact would vastly outweigh any attempt – completely in vain – to raise a single penny; and would have demonstrated, including but not limited to, that
1) losing current vehicular revenue due to slowed crossings and increased traffic in Newport causing congestion and other problems,
2) significantly decreased revenue well beyond their profit margins for local businesses in both Cowes and East Cowes that can easily kill off local businesses including “anchor” businesses such as Waitrose,
3) additional costs to the Council for increased pensioner bus pass usage due to slowed crossings, and
4) modern health and safety risks from single-file queuing near the floating bridge; and
Given that the survey on which they are basing opinions and figures was completely unscientific in its administration and so severely, deeply flawed in its questioning that it cannot be used; and
Given that the IW Council continues to let the public believe lies about the floating bridge such as that Council tax monies pays for the floating bridge when in fact the vehicle charges pay for the bridge and make a profit for the Council, and allowing people to believe that the floating bridge does not function as an incredibly vital part of the island’s road network; and
Given that the Isle of Wight Council has repeatedly ignored the mathematical evidence campaigners, businesses and local politicians and have refused to share their own flawed maths, despite formal requests from businesses and the East Cowes Town Council, and has steamrolled with blinders, ignoring the truth that pedestrian charges will LOSE the Council money, not gain them money, and will hurt the island’s economy;
Will the IW Council remove this item from the Budget as the projected new monies from charging pedestrians would not exist and therefore cannot be legally part of this “zero-balance budget” in the first place, and can the people of East Cowes be assured that the two IW councillors representing East Cowes and Osborne and Whippingham will stand up for their residents and vote against the whole Budget if this item continues to stay in the budget and put their people before politics?
Image: © With kind permission of Allan Marsh
