Council and MP striving for ferries public service obligation

This letter was written in response to a letter to Cllr Jordan from County Press reader, Karl Hunter, about Wightlink ferries

image – Isle of Wight County Press

By Cllr Phil Jordan, IW Council cabinet member for transport and infrastructure:

I can confirm that our Administration is very much of the view that a public service obligation (PSO) would be a positive outcome for the Isle of Wight and for our residents and visitors and we are committed to finding a way to deliver that aspiration moving forward.

To that end, I have met with our MP and discussed the way forward into government with a proposal mindful that we have attempted this previously without any success.

The MP has voiced his general support and we are due to meet again in the coming months to discuss a plan of action.

In addition, I am in discussions with professional transport advisors that assisted during the previous approach to government and working with them to develop our approach with the current MP.

As an aside, I have had talks with Lord Tony Berkeley who has a debate coming to the House of Lords in November concerning similar issues with the ferries on openness and transparency on operating methods and finances and a view on public service obligations.

Ultimately, we need our MP to assist and pursue this action in government and I will be pressing for him to find some capacity and priority to assist us in making a further approach to government.

I hope this responds positively to your recent letter.

This letter was originally published in the Isle of Wight County Press.