We always welcome a Letter to the Editor, this one from Richard Beet from Bembridge, in his own words. Ed
What a wonderful caring company Wightlink is! (CP Friday 27 July, page 2).
Not content with setting standard summer return car fares at levels that would buy an inclusive last-minute Med holiday including flights, they then threaten to ban Christine Gale, one of the Island’s valued and regular visitors, because she dared to suggest that it would be cheaper to purchase a couple of day returns.
Does it not dawn on these people that apart from the immense damage their anti-social summer fare policy is doing to all of us who live here, and also to the reputation of the Island as an increasingly expensive holiday destination, that there might just be something a tincy-bit wrong with their charging policy.
What do you get for £177?
After all, what does £177 buy apart from a cut-price Med holiday?
How about nearly two weeks basic state pension? Or dinner, bed and breakfast for two at the 4-star Royal Hotel in Ventnor perhaps?
Maybe two full tanks of fuel for the average family car “¦ enough to transport four people over 1,000 miles in comfort.
Return ticket on Wightlink
My son and his young family are visiting us this summer from London. Like many others in his position they have a very large mortgage, two children and, fortunately, two jobs.
His ticket price “¦ an exorbitant £172 return.
Boosting Wightlink’s profits
Naturally, we are doing what we can to subsidise their travel costs. But how many other Island-based parents, grandparents and friends are having to do the same, thus helping to boost Wightlink profits and no doubt, their management bonuses?
I’m well aware that other fares at other times of the year can be more reasonable and no doubt Wightlink will be keen to point that out. But that doesn’t help young families with children who are forced to travel at certain times and pay exploitative prices to what should be a public service operator.
Unfair pricing structure
Why could Wightlink not ensure that no standard return ticket costs more than twice a saver day return fare?
I understand that so-called Supersavers are relatively inexpensive and are valuable marketing loss leaders, but to restrict the cost of a standard return would help to avoid the economic need to beat the system.
By creating an unfair fare structure, Wightlink are attempting to ‘criminalise’ those people who simply want a fair deal when visiting the Island.
There’s nothing fair about charging people nearly £200 to travel 10 miles. And what gives Wightlink the right to ban people from the Island for using tickets they have purchased to suit their economic circumstances.The company is setting itself up to dictate the price of crossing the ransom strip otherwise known as the Solent.
Surely this must be private enterprise at its most malevolent. Or am I simply deluded?
