Should there be bridge to the Isle of Wight? Wightlink run two car ferry services to the Isle of Wight, one running from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and takes around 45 minutes and

The other from Lymington to Yarmouth which is around a 40 minutes journey both ferries take cars, motor homes, bikes and foot passengers. • Many Isle of Wight residents joke that the island has the most expensive ferry crossing in the world. A return trip with car and two adults can come in at over £100 during high season.

• "Every other island community in the British Isles which had the feasibility of a bridge has seen one built. Why is there no bridge to the Isle of Wight?" The Isle of Wight Party wants a bridge to the main land. However road bridges are very expensive to build. For example the road bridge to the Isle of Skye which opened in 1995 cost a total of £39 million to build. Some people are cross about the constant cancellations from Wightlink, Red Funnel & Hovertravel and also having to pay expensive prices to travel to and from the island. Some say it is about time the Isle of Wight was connected via a bridge to the mainland of the United Kingdom.

The arguments for a fixed link include claims that it would boost the economy by creating more jobs. It would allow more people to go to the island and spend their money there. A bridge would be a faster and cheaper way to get to the island A bridge would be less dependent on weather

The arguments against a bridge are Increases in traffic would put stress on the local road network, It is quite simple really - the I.O.W. is special because it is an island. A bridge to the mainland would look very ugly indeed. Increased traffic mean increased pollution TASK: What do you think?

• I think there should be a bridge to the Isle of Wight because………

• OR

• I don’t think there should be a bridge to the Isle of Wight because……

• Aim to include some of the evidence and arguments you have read or even include some of your own.