With Hovertravel facing financial challenges and climate change making our weather increasingly wet and windy, it is becoming difficult to always rely on ferries and hovercraft to provide a reliable service.

If a rail tunnel was constructed under the Solent the cost would eventually be justified.

As well as passengers, the railway line could carry freight, taking it off our crumbling roads.

Our current ferries, especially on the Cowes route, are nearing the end of their efficient lifespan.

The ferry companies are loaded with debt, making it difficult for somebody to buy them out.

New means of transport need to be investigated.

A railway tunnel between the Island and the mainland would reduce strain on our roads, already struggling with heavy traffic, which will worsen with population growth.

The cost of road repairs will become unsustainable.

A bridge spanning the Solent would only bring more cars, creating gridlock on already overcrowded summer roads.

A tunnel would not require payment of The Associated British Ports levy and mooring cost.

It could also provide a pipeline bringing water from a mainland reservoir.

With the new joint area authority this could be easier to achieve.

Tunnelling using tunnel boring machines is relatively quick and efficient.

Paul Martin, Ryde