Floating Bridge Fare Rises And Under-19 Charge Proposed

Proposals to increase Floating Bridge fares and introduce a charge for under-19s have been criticised as “lunacy” by an Isle of Wight councillor.

A new Isle of Wight Council report proposes increasing passenger and vehicle fares to bring them in line with the Dartmouth Lower Ferry.

It also suggests a flat £1 charge for under-19s travelling between 7pm and 7am.

The Dartmouth service currently charges £2.50 for an adult single journey, £5 for a day return, £7.50 for a car or small van single and £14 for a day return.

The report says the council faces significant financial pressures and needs to increase income and reduce costs to protect public services.

However, it also warns that a significant fare increase could damage the Floating Bridge's reputation and lead to more congestion on roads around Cowes, Newport and East Cowes if motorists are put off using the service.

The proposed under-19 charge could also prompt campaigns from residents concerned about the impact on children and youth activities.

Previous plans to introduce a charge for under-19s were rejected in February.

All For Islanders councillor Karl Love has criticised the latest proposals, saying they could affect workers, parents and after-school activities, as well as the Island's attractiveness to businesses and investors.

The proposals will be discussed by the council's economy, regeneration, transport and infrastructure committee on Tuesday, October 6th, before potentially being considered as part of the council's budget-setting process.