A study by transport consultants into the future of Island Line, costing up to £20,000, has been ordered by the Isle of Wight Council.
The council says it does not have the money to
finance the proposed transport task force, so has ordered the study, by
Atkins Global Consulting.
This will look into the costs, benefits
and risks of the different approaches to the future provision of rail
services on the 8.5 mile route.
Government cash to pay for the proposed task force has not been forthcoming, according to the authority.
Council
officers are due to travel to Whitehall next week to meet with
Department of Transport (DfT) officials and the Atkins report is
expected to be completed by the end of August in time for the government
to see it ahead of its spending review deadline of September 4.
Council
leader, Cllr Jonathan Bacon, said: "In an era governed by the national
austerity agenda, we must consider the possibility the government could
omit Island Line from the South West franchise altogether in order to
secure greater financial benefit from the wider franchise.
"The
council must be in the best position to influence the DfT’s
deliberations on the subject from an informed point of view. We must be
clear about the potential for maintaining and improving Island Line as
part of the franchise, while setting it against the serious risks
arising from it being left out."
Atkins have been used by Isle of Wight Council before, overseeing management of the PFI contract.
