Time is right for Isle of Wight fixed link, say campaigners

Whitehall is promising a £600 billion war chest to get the economy moving post-Covid and Kevin Price and Carl Feeney of the fixed link campaign are hoping they can cash in for their £3 billion Solent Freedom Tunnel to link the Island with the mainland.

The Pro-Link campaign predicts the £3 billion cost of the tunnel would be recouped in 15 years through £200 million of revenue generated per year from tolls.

They say tunnelling costs are predicted to be considerably lower within a few years, due to better techniques and technology.

Kevin told the County Press: "The government has just announced that around £600 billion is available for infrastructure projects, and they have also set up a new acceleration unit, to speed up infrastructure projects."

But first the Solent Freedom tunnel team says it needs to get its viability study over its £120,000 line and are appealing to Islanders to donate.

"Obviously the quicker the funds are raised, the quicker the viability study will be performed and the results can be made public and also presented to the government and local councils.

"Arup (the company engaged to carry out the study) actually want to go ahead and start the study now, but we have told them not to, until the amount is raised.

"Over £24k has been raised already and a majority of people donate monthly through a standing order.

"The Covid lockdown proves a link will be beneficial in situations like this, as people can stay in their own vehicles, rather than being packed on a ferry, potentially spreading or catching the virus.

"The last bank holiday was a disaster, as once again the ferry companies caused gridlock and very long waiting times.

Read more: Road rage in ferry queues in Southampton left me shaken. 

"Their unreliability seems to be getting worse, not to mention their fares, which are constantly high.

"Some Islanders were quoted £130 for a day return and a cancer patient had to miss his lifesaving treatment, due to a ferry cancellation...both posted these details on the fixed link page.

"Thousands of houses are planned to be built over the next few years, so booking a ferry, or having any available spaces on a ferry will get considerably worse. The ferries are at capacity now.

Carl Feeney of the fixed link campaign.

"The ferry companies were given millions during lockdown by the government, but Wightlink still didn’t return the fastcat service to even a reduced timetable until recently.

"Once the viability study is performed, Arup will present it to the government, then a full feasibility study will need to be performed. "

You can send your viability study fund donations to Pro-link campaign fund community account at Barclays. Sort code 20-60-55, account number 73023761. 

Read more: Where we were in December.