3rd May 2025

Dear WUG Member,

HEALTH and DEPRIVATION

We have a group working on facts and figures regarding NHS health appointments on the mainland. Whilst we have the hospital appointment numbers (very high!) we don’t have any info about dentistry or private health care, or out of area (we have all of the south coast and neighbouring counties). Can you message or email us if you go across for a dentist, or out of area appointments please? (Committee@wug.org.uk)

We have another committee team in place to detail and produce IOW deprivation data with analysis. This, along with our health data, should keep the D of T busy . We need them to see we have real need and that we cannot be ignored.

EVENTS

We are currently planning a Parliament trip (with time to do stuff in London and possibly a House of Commons visit) and most importantly …a demo on the green! Because there aren’t any relevant health and transport scrutiny meetings that we can make before recess, we will plan this visit for October.

In the next few months, we are also planning three information meetings: Ryde, Yarmouth and Cowes (our Red Funnel launch).

Joe, Richard, Phil and hopefully, Sir Paul Kenny will outline their next steps, what they feel has been achieved and the obstacles. We hope to be clearer on how devolution will change things and in what way ferry transport will be included.

We will have one Island demonstration this year, at the Ryde roundabout in August.

As you will appreciate, the kick back from the government was anticipated (nothing is ever easy!)..but we won’t give up. The Maritme minister is to return in six months after more research on dynamic pricing and timetables has been completed.

It seems that WUG may be in the mix in some future meetings…but we don’t have confirmation yet.

As you may have heard we will be working towards becoming WUG/STUG (Solent transport user group)….we have applied to be a charity, a CIO. Once things confirmed we will officially change our group name.

HELP

We are looking for someone who can help us with data collection, we want to use a programme that will enable us to compare WL/RF published figures with the actual figures. Our very talented person is too busy at the moment. We have details of what is needed as we have done this previously. Because the programme is pricey (£120 a month) we will do this for 3 months.

Additionally, if you or anyone you know can help us with social media (insta, tik tok, Bluesky, etc). Vix has launched our own fb page which is needing updating on a regular basis.

If you have been caught up in the Fastcat cancellations, I hope this isn’t too painful.

Dates and details for above will follow as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support!

P.S. For those of you who contribute to our costs, thank you again. For those of you who would like to contribute, our expenses will be high this year, we would appreciate it!

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Richmond House, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1JD
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