Ferries risk being left out of regional transport plans, says a mayoral candidate.
Martin Tod, leader of Winchester City Council and the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has launched a petition urging the government to include ferry services in the region’s devolved transport strategy.
He said: "Buses. Trains. Cars and trucks. But not ferries?
"If you don’t have a plan for ferries in Hampshire and across the Solent, you don’t have a plan for transport."
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Mr Tod argues the government’s devolution programme, which promises greater transport powers and funding for mayors and combined authorities, has overlooked ferries, despite their essential role connecting the Isle of Wight with the mainland.
He said: "Ferries are not some optional extra here.
"For people living on the Isle of Wight and communities along the waterside, they are a vital part of getting to work, getting to school, accessing services and keeping our local economy moving.
"We need a properly joined-up transport system, and that means buses, trains, roads and ferries."
The petition calls on the Prime Minister to ensure ferries are treated as a core part of future transport plans, alongside other forms of public transport.
It highlights comments made by the Prime Minister on July 30, when he stated: "Soon, every local leader will have the power and resources to improve public transport."
Mr Tod believes the omission reveals a wider misunderstanding of the region’s transport needs.
He said: "Because the government doesn’t understand our area, they’re not giving Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the same powers to plan for ferries as they are for buses, trains and roads.
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"That makes no sense. We have the Solent running right through the heart of our transport network.
"You simply cannot draw up a serious transport plan for this area and pretend that the water isn’t there."
He urged residents from across the region to back the petition.
Mr Tod said: "We all know we can do a better job if our transport plan is allowed to include ferries.
"Now we need to persuade the government to change its mind."
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