Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Bob Seely, has pressed the Government to look at stronger measures to protect the public interest over Solent ferries.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Mr Seely told minsters,
“The ferry services fall down too often.”
Campaign to improve ferry service
This speech is the latest part of Mr Seely’s ongoing campaign to improve the Island’s ferry service and follows a letter to ministerial officials, as well as a meeting with Minister Robert Courts last week.
Mr Seely detailed his requests on the Island’s behalf, asking that government oversee ferry timetables directly, that the Treasury provide support for a possible third company to rival Red Funnel and Wightlink’s car ferry service, that government limit or regulate the debt levels of large transport companies or that government extend mandatory compensation legislation to cover the Island’s ferries.
Such legislation would mean that those delayed by late ferries must be adequately compensated.
He told Parliament,
“First, following up on the letter that I wrote, can the Government take the power to oversee ferry timetables in the same way that the Rail Minister does with rail timetables?
“Secondly, especially because we have a Treasury Minister here, will the Treasury support a national infrastructure bid potentially by a new ferry operator – a free-market alternative – to get a new player into the market, especially if it is a community interest company that will keep a low debt level and a more affordable price structure for Islanders?
“Thirdly, will the Government look at other measures and potentially take other controls over ferry firms, for instance through looking at their debt level? … the privatisation of Wightlink did not work, and that company has been loaded up with debt by corporate sharks over the years. That debt gets paid for every time an Islander uses the ferry service, and it is frankly unfair. I also question whether it is right for public services, be they Wightlink or Southern Water, to be owned ultimately by companies based in offshore tax havens. It is not right and it is not good for us that that practice continues.
“Fourthly, can we look at extending the EU261/UK261 regulations, which cover air travel, to cover the ferry firms?”
Cap for those travelling to mainland for health-related appointments
Mr Seely also made the case for a public service obligation to be imposed on cross-Solent transport providers.
A public service obligation would legally mandate ferry providers to run a certain number of services each day and at certain times.
“Fifthly, can we add public service obligations, either supported or unsupported by the taxpayer? Will the Government support the Isle of Wight Council or the Department for Transport taking a share in Wightlink or potentially Red Funnel?
“Will the Government also look at a cap on costs for those travelling to the mainland for health-related travel?
“Unlike the Isles of Scilly, we do not have the same beneficial arrangement, and those costs are sometimes higher than they are for other people.”
News shared by the office of Isle of Wight Conservative MP, Robert Seely, in their own words. Ed
Image: © Parliament TV
