Shadow Transport Secretary Visits Isle Of Wight Over Ferry Costs

The Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden visited the Isle of Wight on Friday to discuss ferry costs and upcoming changes to taxation.

During the visit, he was joined by Isle of Wight East MP Joe Robertson, with the pair meeting Islanders and ferry operator Wightlink to hear concerns about rising travel prices.

Talks focused on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which is set to introduce a new levy on ferry operators from 1 July.

The charge is expected to cost around £1 million per year on routes including Portsmouth to Fishbourne.

The scheme is designed to encourage investment in greener vessels, although concerns have been raised about a lack of charging infrastructure for battery-powered ferries in Portsmouth and Southampton.

As part of the visit, Mr Holden boarded Wightlink’s hybrid ferry Victoria of Wight, which will still be subject to the new levy.

The Conservatives have opposed the changes and are calling for a different approach, arguing the Isle of Wight’s reliance on ferry travel should be taken into account.

Speaking after the visit, Mr Robertson said the Island continues to face high travel costs and questioned the impact of additional charges.

Mr Holden added that ferry users were already paying high prices and urged the Government to reconsider the policy, as well as progress discussions aimed at improving affordability and reliability.