The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, told the Daily Echo yesterday (Wednesday) that he would “explore a bridge or tunnel to the Isle of Wight – but only if the Islanders want one”.
For a fixed link
The issue of a Solent Tunnel fixed link has recently been reignited, after local businessmen, Carl Feeney and Kevin Price set up a debating forum on Facebook and ePetition gathering views on whether there should be a referendum on the fixed link issue.
If enough Islanders show an interest in a Referendum, the cost of running one would fall to the local authority.
The MP’s office have told OnTheWight that once the Transport and Infrastructure Taskforce is established, this is one issue it could look at.
Those against
This in turn has sparked those against the idea of a bridge or tunnel across the Solent to voice their views on another Facebook campaign and ePetition.
Chancellor’s pledge
Mr Osborne said,
“I’d be very interested to sit down with local civic and business leaders to see what we can do to support the transport links – including, potentially, the fixed link to the Isle of Wight.
“Of course, we must involve the people of the Isle of Wight in that conversation as well.”
Image: altogetherfool under CC BY 2.0
