Author: Rachael Brooks
Andrew Turner’s Ferry Campaign Update
Wednesday, 18th June, 2008 at 4:08 pm, Isle of Wight
You may remember Island MP Andrew Turner has been campaigning for sometime for cheaper ferry prices.
He has raised the subject in Parliament on several occasions and continues with his campaign for the cross-Solent ferry market to be investigated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
We hear from his office today that 8,224 businesses and members of the public have supported the campaign so far.
Mr Turner said;
“There has been a great deal of work going on behind the scenes over recent months. A large number of people have contributed useful information and evidence and I would particularly like to thank Connie Cowley and Pat Trevett who have voluntarily ploughed through many of the public responses and produced a very useful analysis for the OFT. I am also extremely grateful to the very able group of local businessmen who have been helping on a number of fronts.”
Mr Turner went on to say ….
“The submission now includes additional arguments and information on the latest round of price rises, fuel surcharges and service cuts. I am not able to make the additional documents public as many people have given information in confidence. I am currently seeking an appointment with the OFT in order to hand in our submission – and all the comments from members of the public will also be passed over to them in support of the submission.
If anyone still wishes to support the campaign they may do so on-line or by writing to me at 24 The Mall, Carisbrooke Road, Newport. This is a campaign which has attracted cross-party and strong public support and has even been noticed by the Prime Minister, so we must be in with a good chance of getting an investigation started.”
Peter Linacre, of Joe’s in Newport and Ryde, one of the businessmen who has been helping and advising Mr Turner said
“We have sought detailed, professional advice on a number of issues and that has made what was already a good case even stronger. We are all very hopeful that the OFT will start an investigation into these matters as the Island simply cannot support ever-increasing fares.
As a businessman I fully understand that the investors in the ferry companies should make a fair profit – but the key word is ‘fair’. The OFT are best placed to determine whether the current levels of profit are fair and reasonable under the circumstances.”
Email This Story To A Friend
June 18th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
While I have every sympathy for Andrew Turner’s campaign I just wonder what can be achieved? The facts are that unlike the trains and even the buses there is little legislation/ regulation of ferry travel in the England.
I can see the ferry companies pointing to the competitive local market (3 operators) and the recent massive hikes in fuel costs to explain the situation. Sadly a few years ago I think there was a case of an uncompetitive local market but not now.
The question is will our MP bite the bullet and urge for legislation to regulate cross Solent ferry travel.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Good grief! Me? And the Earl? Agreeing?
Absolutely your Earliness!
I have long argued that the commuters, who are largely responsible for the constant moaning about the ferry fares, moved over here in the full knowledge that the only way over WAS the ferry.
To then attempt to achieve a fixed link by the back door is not only unacceptable, but impossible, as 75% of residents do not want a fixed link.
That, my aristocratic friend, is the agenda here.
June 18th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
Is it competition or a cartel, though? Hovertravel is the only carrier with an understandable fares system, and just try and find a price list for the car ferries!
June 18th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
There is a very simple way to make the fares competitive and that is for the government to offer a ferry license for a second carrier on the same route with financial sweeteners to cover some of the cost of setting up. See how fast Wightlink drop their prices, fuel surcharge and all.
June 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Freddie- good to see we are on the same side. Both businesses and commuters know that the ferry link is the only option, a fixed link will never get off the drawing board.
Arthur- I would say there is limited competition, I think it is going to be hard for our MP or the OFT to prove that a cartel exists. I do agree that car ferry prices are a whole science in themselves, but there again rail tickets were quite similar until the recent reforms.
BigEars- Big problem as I said in my first post, ferry travel is unregulated by Government so another operator does not need a licence. In that respect the barriers to entry are low in the regulation area but so much higher in terms of creating an infrastructure (ports/ docking on both sides). I remember only one other operator trying to get in on the Cowes/ Southampton route back in the late 1980s but were soon driven out of business by Red Funnel. Finally why would the Government want to get involved? Few votes and only 1 MP means that in polital terms the Island is so marginal it is not worth bothering about.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
I totally disagree with Earl Grey that there is nothing we can do about the ferry cost. Have you been on them lately, most crossings seem to be at least half empty so why not reduce the price to locals and fill the ferries.We have a van which we use to go on the mainland. Wightlink charges us the same price as a mainland car. How does that make any sense, it takes up no more space than the average 4×4 car. I recently asked for a quote for the van towing a caravan for a weekend visit and they quoted me the sum of £198. How on earth can they justify these prices.If we want the same freedom to move about Britain like the rest of the country then we need to start being more militant and start protesting outside the ferry terminals. We need to have an action group started to get our cause noticed by the media. Whilst we just sit back and wring our hands saying “what can we do”, the ferry companies are laughing all the way to the bank.