Residents of Cowes (including East Cowes) have labelled the consultation issued by the Isle of Wight council on proposed 50p each way foot passenger charges as ‘completely biased’, pointing out the ‘Final’ survey does not follow the council’s own consultation guidelines.
Vital question missing
For the first week of the consultation (last week), when face-to-face interviews were carried out on the Floating Bridge at Cowes, whoever at the council who designed the survey hadn’t included what many people consider the most obvious question, ‘Should there be charges on the Floating Bridge?’
This was despite this huge and obvious omission having been pointed out to council officers previously and the survey questionnaire having gone through a number of drafts.
Cllr Hillard: “Brilliant result for people power”
Following complaints from residents (see below) as well as from the ward councillor, Cllr Luisa Hillard, the consultation questionnaire now begins with the question: “Should the council charge pedestrians and cyclists for using the floating bridge?”
On her Facebook profile, Cllr Hillard shared news of the change,
“I am sure you will agree that this is a brilliant result for people power – a small triumph! – (and for me a demonstration of the good working relationship I have Council officers who respected my concerns and accepted my suggested wording).”
Survey flaws highlighted at council meeting
As OnTheWight reported from last week’s full council meeting, following a protest outside County Hall, East Cowes resident Marcie Hansen also took advantage of public question time to ask,
“It was stated in the 7th July Executive report that one of the questions that would be asked of residents would be ‘should there be charges?’ The survey that I saw today does not include that question and I’d like to know why and also want to know why tourists are being surveyed today.”
Cllr Ian Stephens replied that when the council goes out to consultation they “go across the spectrum”, whether it’s tourists or residents, stating that the tourist economy benefits residents and the industry. He agreed to take up the query on Marcie’s behalf, adding,
“But what we have done is try not to guide anyone down a pathway with the consultation but actually try to leave it as open and balanced as possible.”
He finished by saying,
“I do feel the consultation is valid at this time.”
Online survey just launched
Face to face interviews with passengers of the floating bridge were carried out last week and on Tuesday (23rd September), the consultation was launched on the council’s Website, allowing all Islanders to have their say until 31 October 2014.
More to follow.
