‘Absolute nonsense’ was the response of the IW Council’s transport lead to a claim by a government minister it is up to the authority to impose a public service obligation on Solent ferry firms
Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely asked in parliament yesterday (Thursday) if it was right the Isle of Wight has public ferry services without any sense of this obligation.
A Public Service Organisation (PSO), by EU transport law, is an arrangement between a governing body and a contract-winning company, whereby the company is obliged to operate a specific level of service.
Seely: What assessment has been made?
On the order of questions for the Department for Transport (DfT) session in the Commons today, Mr Seely asked what assessment the DfT has made of the potential merits of imposing a PSO on vehicle and passenger services between the Island and the mainland.
Mr Seely asked whether transport ministers and secretary of state, Grant Shapps, could give him an example of anywhere else in the UK where a true lifeline service had no PSO attached to them.
The Island is served by three main operatives, Red Funnel, Wightlink and Hovertravel, which are all privately-owned companies, with no service obligations.
Courts: Service provision is a matter for the local council
Responding, Robert Courts MP, parliamentary under secretary at the DfT, said Mr Seely was a longstanding advocate of improving the services for the Island on which the pair had spoken many times.
He said,
“Mr Seely will know service provision to the Island is a matter for the local council, working with service operators.
“Nonetheless, the government will continue to monitor the service on the route.”
Jordan: Absolute nonsense
However, the Isle of Wight Council’s cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, Cllr Phil Jordan, said it was absolute nonsense.
He said,
“If it were in our powers, we would have been talking to the ferry companies along those lines a very, very long time ago.
“This is absolutely a matter for the government. It is not a matter the council can deal with without the assistance and regulatory powers of government.”
Cllr Jordan has said he has had brief, initial discussions with Mr Seely about regulating the ferries and asked whether Mr Seely felt government had changed its views and if it was worthy of us considering a new approach for PSO regulations.
According to Cllr Jordan, Mr Seely did not know, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is part of. Read here to find about more about how that scheme works on the Island. Some alterations and additions may have been made by News OnTheWight. Ed
