SANDBANKS Ferry staff have defended proposals to increase tolls due to "increased costs" over the next three years.

A proposed rise has been advertised by Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company following an application to the Department for Transport.

Fees are due to increase marginally in April based on the previous toll application.

However, the submitted plans for a new schedule see the charges set for further increases up until 2021.

For pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists the toll will eventually double to £2. The fee for cars will rise to £6, with HGV and buses coaches going up to £12.

The ferry operator says it is not their intention to fully implement the increase in tolls charged until April 1, 2021.

A spokesperson for the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company said: "The proposed increase is because of our increased costs and to replace the ferry at some point.

"We do not have date for replacing it. It will need replacing in the future.

"The proposals are all down to increased costs. It has been a very long time since there was a proposed increase in the foot passenger and bike tolls. We set out a maximum figure and agree it.

"From April it will be going up from £4.30 to £4.50 for cars. There is an incremental rise every year.

The current chain ferry, Bramble Bush Bay, came into service in January 1994 and is the fourth ferry to operate the service since the company came into being back in 1923.

"The ferry is very popular with everyone and a lot of locals on the Purbeck and Poole side use it," the spokesperson added.

"Anybody who travels regularly can buy books of tickets. You can get 50 tickets at a cost of £3.20 each at the moment.

"We have a lot of people on both sides who buy books of tickets."