Letter to our Island MPs 25/5/26

Dear Richard and Joe,

We are writing to share the outcome of our recent campaign regarding the affordability of cross-Solent transport for Isle of Wight residents, and to highlight several points that we believe are directly relevant to you in your roles as our Island MPs.

We have now formally stood down the campaign and have attached our full Campaign Update for your reference.

In summary, we made substantial progress, reaching over 8,000 signatures. However, only 3,927 (approximately 4,000) of these signatures are from Isle of Wight residents, representing a relatively small proportion of the population and active electorate. It would be inappropriate to present the total signature count in a way that could be interpreted as representing Island residents, particularly when our proposals were designed to deliver financial benefits only to Island residents.

It is important to stress that this does not demonstrate the absence of an affordability problem. Rather, it reflects our inability, within a limited timeframe and using the tools available to us, to evidence this. Specifically, we have not been able to demonstrate whether there was sufficient local support to justify Government intervention on affordability. The absence of sufficient signatures should not be interpreted as evidence that the issue does not exist, but rather that it has not been possible to quantify it to the level required within the timeframe available.

Through the campaign, we also encountered a high degree of division in local perspectives. Views range from those who do not believe there is a significant issue, to those experiencing acute financial pressure. There are also strongly differing opinions on potential solutions — including resistance to any changes to current arrangements, and, at the other end of the spectrum, advocacy for a fixed link.

This lack of a shared direction of travel presents a significant challenge for any campaign seeking to demonstrate a clear and unified mandate for change.

In light of this, we are now looking to you, and to the Cross-Solent Transport Group, to take this issue forward.

A key conclusion from our work is the clear need for robust, independent analysis of affordability and its impacts on Island residents. At present, there is no comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of what “affordability” actually means in practice for the Island.

We would strongly encourage the commissioning of an independent study to assess:

·       The impact of cross-Solent transport costs on Island residents

·       The distribution of that impact across different groups of residents

·       A clear baseline for what constitutes “affordable” access

Critically, this should also inform a broader strategic question: what level of connectivity and mobility should underpin the Island’s future economy? For example, is the objective to support limited, occasional travel, or to enable a more dynamic and connected economy characterised by greater freedom of movement and opportunity?

Without clarity on this point, it will be difficult for the Cross-Solent Transport Group to define appropriate interventions or evaluate potential solutions.

We have now placed the campaign “on ice” while this process develops, and will continue to monitor progress with interest. 

We hope our work to date is helpful in informing your engagement with this issue.

At this stage, having committed significant time and effort to the campaign, we do not intend to engage in further discussions or meetings on this matter. We trust that the points set out above, and in the accompanying Campaign Update, provide a clear and constructive basis for you to take this work forward.

Yours sincerely,

Mike & Jo Williams