The manager of the recently opened Waitrose superstore has hit out at Council plans to charge foot passengers to use the floating bridge in East Cowes, ‘The Gazette’ has learnt.
A campaign to stop plans that have angered many residents in both Cowes and East Cowes is totally supported by Richard Tudor-Thomas, who attended a meeting in support of stopping the new charging scale.
Mr Tudor-Thomas has openly said that it would damage business. He went on to say had the store know of the charges, they would have thought twice about opening the store in East Cowes.
Plans revealed by the Isle of Wight Council are to charge every user including pedestrians who currently travel for free.
The manager of the Waitrose store is arguing with the Council, to come and talk to them to work out a better solution.
The new charging scale, if it comes into force, will charge pedestrians, pillion passengers on motorbikes and passengers in cars for using the crossing.
Mr Tudor-Thomas has said: “We share concerns about the impact this will have on us all as local traders and firmly believe shops and the town as a whole would be best served by maintaining existing prices.
“We opened a store in East Cowes under the impression we would be part of an important regeneration project with the shared aim of revitalizing the town as an attractive retail destination.
“Whilst we remain as committed as ever to doing our part to attract shoppers to East Cowes, it is very doubtful we would have invested in the site if the charges had been in place at the time we completed the purchase.
“Traders rely on shoppers being able to travel between the two parts of Cowes and the proposals are likely to cause significant harm to local businesses. We would therefore urge the council to consider alternative options to avoid damaging the local economy and would be happy to discuss these with them.”
