Following the release of official figures detailing freight and passenger movements to and from the Isle of Wight, Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP is supporting a wide-ranging debate on the impact that high levels of traffic and people have on the Island’s infrastructure and services.

Statistics compiled by the Department for Transport include the Isle of Wight for the first time, and show that the total Roll on/Roll off (Ro-Ro) Island traffic at 13mt (million tonnes) is exceeded only by Dover with 23mt and Grimsby & Immingham with 14.5mt. The number of passengers carried by Island ferries is over 9 million per year – with two thirds of them travelling on the car ferries. To put that into context, our biggest seaport, Dover has a throughput of 13m Ro-Ro passengers.

Mr Turner said

“We are all aware that there are extremely large volumes of traffic moving across the Solent serving the Island’s economy, but these figures are really quite surprising.

“We need to recognise and plan for the impact which these movements have on our roads, our infrastructure and public services. We have no bridge, no tunnel and no scheduled air services - we are entirely dependent on the ferry companies. I have been the first to put pressure on the companies to deliver value for money and regular and reliable services. But I recognise that those same companies need us, the whole community, to come together to plan our future, to make sure that decisions can be taken against a positive and clear background. Only in a climate of co-operation and sensible discussion can we find the right answers, so I believe we need to widen and develop the debate. We also have a new coalition Government and everybody knows that money is tight, so we need clear-cut information on our current situation and our future plans so that we can argue our case to receive appropriate public services.

“The Isle of Wight Council is opening up discussion on the Island’s economic development plans and consulting on transport plans. I would therefore encourage everybody to join in the discussion on these vital decisions. The outcomes will be important to all of us who live, work and play on our beautiful Island.”

END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808