Following last week’s public meeting to discuss the future of Island Line trains, campaigners from Keep Island Line in Franchise (KILF) have today written to Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Andrew Turner.
As previously reported (see our live coverage), Andrew Turner declined an invitation (see his repsonse) to attend the meeting that saw more than 250 residents head to Shanklin Theatre to share their views on Tuesday evening.
Meeting with the Minister denied
All those who attended the meeting (including the chairman of the Island Conservative Association and Group leader of Conservative councillors) voted for the following resolution:
To call on Andrew Turner to facilitate a delegation from KILF to meet the rail minister to make the following points:
- keep Island Line in franchise for the duration of the franchise and back the Isle of Wight Council’s efforts in this regard.
- investigate ways that the new franchise would require the new franchisee to make the investment required to maintain and enhance the Island Line both in terms of the service provided and in improved infrastructure.
According to KILF’s letter today (see in full below), Mr Turner has since told the County Press that he “would not organise a meeting with a minister that involved campaigners on only one side of the argument”.
The campaigners express their confusion over the MP’s statement, as minutes of a meeting held with Claire Perry MP in February indicate that he, “took a delegation to meet with the Rail Minister with the sole purpose of exploring and advocating the community ownership model, without even mentioning the franchise”.
High calibre of experts present
Mr Turner had also suggested there was little point holding last week’s meeting, because there would be no ‘experts’ present.
Contrary to this, as reported live from the meeting, a former board level Director of First Group was present at the meeting, along with others working in the transport industry at various levels.
KILF campaigners said,
“Given your absence from the meeting, we also consider that your glib assertion that there were “no transport or rail experts present” to be both misplaced and wrong. As it happens, the meeting included a contribution from one local resident with board-level experience in a major public transport company and involvement in transport franchising arrangements, as well as many individuals who between them had extensive background in – and detailed understanding of – various modes of public transport, including rail.”
Call for public meeting
The campaigners finish their letter by calling on Mr Turner to meet with them in the very near future and to attend a public meeting saying,
“You are no doubt confident of the soundness of your case for the CIC model, so we feel that a further public meeting in the near future enabling you to set out your vision (and receive questions on it) would be both timely and relevant.”
Drinks in Cowes beat public meeting
As previously reported, Mr Turner declined the invitation to attend last week’s public meeting, saying he felt it was “both unhelpful and unnecessary”. He told the CP that he had already confirmed attendance at a drinks reception in Cowes.
In today’s the letter to Mr Turner, campaigners said,
“We also found your comments about the public meeting to be particularly dismissive of the 250 of your constituents who gave up their Tuesday evening to attend it, while you were enjoying drinks elsewhere.”
Mr Turner’s email to Deborah Gardiner who chaired the meeting was as follows,
Thank you for your invitation to contribute to a meeting you are organising about the future of Island Line.
I consider that calling such a meeting at this time is both unhelpful and unnecessary. I am saddened by the willingness of some local politicians to politicise what should be a mature discussion about the future of the link between Ryde and Shanklin. I have called for the Council to take action to get the Infrastructure Taskforce up and running quickly so that it can start its work, as was unanimously agreed by the Council last November. I understand that progress is now being made on that.
It is for the Taskforce to look at the options for the future of Island Line, take expert evidence and to take the views of the public as well as politicians into account. They can then make recommendations which elected members will take decisions on. I have already offered to support the Council in holding a public meeting at an appropriate time in the future, including helping to ensure that experts attend to help promote informed debate.
In view of all the above I shall not be attending your meeting and I already have commitments on that evening in any event.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew
Office of Andrew Turner
Member of Parliament for the Isle of Wight
Letter to Andrew Turner
The full letter can be viewed below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
