We, the undersigned, urge the Isle of Wight Council to approve the plan to regenerate the East Cowes gateway to the Island.

In short, it's important to do so because the plan will deliver:

• An improved ferry service 
• Part of a £15million investment for the Island
• Much easier travelling to and from the Island for everyone
• An estimated 200 new jobs, with many more maintained
• Improved traffic flow  
• More money brought onto the Island
• More support for Island businesses
• A better first impression for visitors 

We need people to support this because: 
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Island, but we need your help as a few people are trying to stop this from happening. If you want to see investment into the Island, an improved gateway and a better ferry service, then please let your voice be heard by signing our petition.

There are many more reasons to support this plan, which are covered in the below letter I wrote to Isle of Wight residents and businesses:

I am writing to ask for your support. Since I joined Red Funnel and moved onto the Island two years ago the consistent request has been to make the ferry service even better. We are now planning to do just that with major improvements that will help the Island prosper. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Island, but we need your help as a few people are trying to stop this from happening.

You may have heard that we have embarked on a £15million investment programme to improve our services, including refurbished interiors and highly trained staff. We are also spending £6million building Red Jet 6 in East Cowes. Our commitment to the Island means a significant proportion of the produce sold in our cafés on shore and on-board come from Island businesses. We’ve also launched the ‘My Red Funnel Rewards’ loyalty scheme to reward frequent customers, especially Island residents.

The next big opportunity we have is to improve our terminals in Southampton, West Cowes and East Cowes. In Southampton, we’re planning a move to a new terminal which will serve both the Hi-Speed service and the vehicle ferry, with increased capacity. However, it is in East Cowes that we need to make the most important changes, which will have the biggest benefits to the Island.

In September we submitted a planning application to the Isle of Wight Council to build a brand new terminal in East Cowes and to redevelop our present facility. Our current marshalling area holds the equivalent of a full shipload of vehicles but if customers arrive early or there are delays, the traffic spills out into East Cowes, causing inconvenience to our customers and the local community. There is no room for growth at present.

The proposed site for our new terminal is in the area between the Columbine (Union Jack) building and our current terminal. Red Funnel has no future interest in the Columbine building, which is destined to be part of the Victoria Marina development. The new site is currently occupied by a number of sheds, used by various businesses on short-term leases. The new terminal design also includes Dover Road, where there are four properties that Red Funnel is seeking to buy.

It is essential, for the future of the Island’s prosperity, that the reasons why we need a new, bigger terminal and the benefits to the whole Island are understood by everyone.

30% of our staff live on the Island and we want to see the local industry develop. We believe that all of the businesses impacted by the East Cowes scheme can be relocated to more suitable local facilities. We are sympathetic to the residents of Dover Road and have made generous offers well in excess of market value to relocate them.

For Red Funnel to provide a better ferry service, that will benefit all Island residents and businesses, we must have this bigger terminal in East Cowes. The Isle of Wight Council planning committee will make a decision on the application for the new terminal at the beginning of March. If you want a better ferry service, then please let your voice be heard by signing our petition online .

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, and for your support.

Kevin George,
CEO, Red Funnel

To support the plan, you can choose from the following options:

• Add your comment below
• Leave a comment on the council's planning page: bitly.com/eastcowesplans
• Post a letter of support, quoting the full planning application number: TCP/32391, P/01065/15 to:
  Isle of Wight Council
  Seaclose Offices
  Fairlee Road
  Newport
  Isle of Wight
  PO30 2QS