TRANSPORT SECRETARY COMMITS TO SOLUTION OVER ISLE OF WIGHT FERRIES ISSUE

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has acknowledged the glaring problem with the Isle of Wight’s ferry travel and has issued a commitment to doing all she can to find a ‘solution’.

The significant development follows substantial engagement between Isle of Wight West MP Richard Quigley and the Department for Transport.

It also comes in the wake of the Island’s ferry roundtable, the first event of its kind in nearly a decade, which brought together Maritime Minister Mike Kane, both of the Island’s MPs, and a range of other local stakeholders.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, has said:

“It’s clear that transport off the Island is an important issue for residents. We have listened to islanders and Richard Quigley MP has worked tirelessly on bringing this problem to our attention. We are doing everything we can to find a solution.”

Richard Quigley believes this commitment from the Secretary of State marks the first time the Department for Transport has formally acknowledged the Isle of Wight’s ferry issues.

However, last week Island Echo reported that Prime Minister Kier Starmer had acknowledged the issue. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/starmer-says-isle-of-wight-ferries-have-simply-not-been-good-enough/.

Richard has said:

“Whilst the issues are obvious to us, it’s my job as a member of parliament to raise these issues at the highest levels of government.

“Heidi is very much on top of her brief and wants to make sure the Island benefits from the integrated transport plan. We can’t get off the Island without using a ferry service.

“It’s been really helpful having two MPs for the Island as Joe Robertson and I are united on this issue so the DfT have had twice the volume of requests for help”.