Joe Robertson had his first meeting with the new CEO of Wightlink, to discuss the future of ferry services between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. The meeting focused on ferry reliability, affordability and accessibility for residents and businesses.
Within a few weeks of entering Parliament, Joe Robertson met with the Secretary of State for Transport to make the case for Government action. He has also most recently met with the Wightlink Users Group to work together and secure a number of smaller but more immediate changes by dealing with the ferry companies direct: like better travel for health appointments and improving reliability and late evening services.
Joe Robertson said, "I enjoyed meeting the new CEO of Wightlink, Katy Taylor to engage directly and represent East Wight residents and businesses to try and achieve service improvements.
My job in Westminster to persuade the Government to include ferries in its integrated UK transport plans along with rail and buses continues, working collaboratively with my neighbouring West Wight MP, Richard Quigley and other parliamentarians.
There will be integrated transport legislation later this year (or early next year) dealing with trains and buses which presents a genuine opportunity to include ferry regulations too. It would not make sense for the state to take a greater role in trains and buses in order to promote better integrated UK transport without also including ferries."
Joe has also written about dealing with the ferries in the local press, spoken about ferries on BBC Radio Solent and most recently joined the APPG for Hospitality and Tourism to work cross party to press for Government Interventions.
