Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP has backed an Isle of Wight commuters campaign for an inquiry into the costs of travelling to and from the Isle of Wight by ferry.  The Solent crossing is currently one of the most expensive stretches of water to cross anywhere in the UK.

Ferry Passengers for a Fair Deal are calling on the Competition Commission to investigate the costs of travel and carriage to and from the Isle of Wight.  Since 2004 the prices for extended return tickets and season tickets have both gone up by between two and three times the rate of inflation.

The group has set up an online petition for people to register their concern about ferry prices at www.competition4iowferries.blogspot.com.  The last time the Competition Commission investigated the cost of travel to and from the island was in 1991.  Since then additional services from Southampton and Portsmouth have both been axed.The Commission’s investigation at that time highlighted cost per kilometre of travel to the island as one of the highest in the UK. 

The Commission also recommended that because of weak competition between providers, the dominant position of Wightlink “could be open to abuse and there may be a need for a monitoring of its profitability and fares in the future.”

Sarah said “This is an important issue which affects many of my constituents.  Whilst I appreciate that prices cannot stand still forever, the price rises we have seen have been indefensible and are hitting hardworking people where it hurts.  I strongly support calls for the Competition Commission to investigate this matter.”