Five more Island councils have joined the campaign Ferry Fares Fair? It brings the total to 25.

Andrew Turner MP, who is asking the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to investigate cross-Solent services, said the support could make all the difference.

“As far as I know, every Town & Parish Council which has considered the issue has given unanimous backing. This support, together with the comments from thousands of Islanders and mainlanders, will influence the OFT when it considers my submission. I am delighted with the level of support received from the community”

The parish councils which have responded are: Brighstone, Calbourne, Chale, Freshwater, Godshill, St Helens, Lake, Nettlestone and Seaview, Newchurch, Shalfleet, Shorwell, Totland, Wroxall. The town councils are: Brading, Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Ventnor and Yarmouth. The management committees are: Newport, Northwood and Ryde.

Four MPs, with constituencies bordering The Solent, are also backing the campaign. They include a LibDem and a Labour MP.

Mr Turner commented: “This emphasises this is not a political campaign”.

Members of the Island's Women's Institutes and Townswomen's Guilds are also circulating 30,000 questionnaires on |Mr Turner's behalf, making them available in places such as shops, takeaways, hairdressers, surgeries and hotels.

You can read Mr Turner's submission in full and comment online at www.islandmp.org

END Contact : Andrew Turner’s office 01983 530808