Plans to explore a new fast passenger service between Whitehaven and the Isle of Man have received an overwhelmingly positive response, with more than 4,000 responses to a survey launched by Josh MacAlister MP.
The survey found that 93% of respondents would be very or quite likely to use the service, including more than seven in ten who said they would be very likely to do so.
Among respondents living off the Isle of Man, 98% said being able to travel directly from Whitehaven would make them more likely to visit the island than they are currently.
There was particularly strong interest in using the service for short breaks and day trips. 81% said they could see themselves using it for a weekend or short break, while 65% selected day trips.
The results also suggest the service could generate repeat business rather than simply being used for major events. Almost half of respondents said they could see themselves travelling throughout the year, while a third said they might use the service several times a year and around half once or twice a year.
Importantly, the survey also uncovered significant demand for travel in the opposite direction.
Almost 400 distinct responses came from residents on the Isle of Man, even though the survey has not been promoted there. Of those respondents, 90% said they were very or quite likely to use the service and more than half said they could see themselves using it several times a year.
The comments suggest a direct route could bring new visitors into Whitehaven, provide a new gateway to the Lake District and wider West Cumbria and create additional footfall for local shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels and other businesses.
Leanne from Whitehaven said: “I think it’s a brilliant idea and long overdue. Could also be good for Isle of Man residents to come and visit Whitehaven and bring tourism to the town.”
Kelly from Workington said: “I think this would be a fantastic service for West Cumbria. It would give local people a much easier way to visit the Isle of Man without having to travel to another port first, and could also bring more visitors into Whitehaven and the wider area.”
Jo from Castletown on the Isle of Man said: “I have answered as an Isle of Man resident who would be interested in using the service to go for weekend breaks in the Lake District. I think there would be a lot of interest from Isle of Man residents.”
Alex from Ballasalla added: “I think the service could provide Isle of Man residents with another destination and an alternative way to access Cumbria and the surrounding areas, rather than always having to travel via the existing ferry ports.”
The survey also highlighted affordability as one of the key challenges in making a service successful. More than eight in ten respondents said ticket price would be important to their decision, with 71% saying they regarded a return fare of £95 or less as reasonable.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“The response to this has been phenomenal. 4,000 responses gives us a really substantial body of evidence showing that there is serious public interest in restoring a passenger link across the Irish Sea from Whitehaven.
“What is particularly exciting is that this clearly isn’t just about West Cumbrians wanting an easier way to get to the Isle of Man. We’ve had hundreds of responses from the island itself from people who want to come in the other direction – for weekends in the Lake District, to visit friends and family or simply to explore Whitehaven and West Cumbria.
“That matters because this could be another part of our efforts to bring more people into West Cumbria and increase footfall into local towns and villages.
“The survey also tells us very clearly what will determine whether this works. It has to be affordable, reliable and run at convenient times. We now need to take this evidence and do the detailed work on the costs and operating model to see whether we can turn the enthusiasm into a viable service.
“There is still a lot of work to do and this survey alone doesn’t prove that the numbers stack up commercially. But it makes a very strong case for taking the idea seriously and pushing on to the next stage.”
Work will now continue to examine the commercial viability of the proposed service, including ticket prices, timetabling, operating costs and arrangements for booking and marketing.
The survey is still running and can be completed at joshmacalister.uk/isle-of-man