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Port jobs set to go in wake of Barfleur loss (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Port jobs set to go in wake of Barfleur loss
8:00am Tuesday 9th February 2010
FEARS are growing over major job cuts at Poole Port following the axing of the Barfleur.
The loss of Brittany Ferries’ year-round cross-Channel ferry service will mean a drop in income of more than 20 per cent.
Now Poole Harbour Commissioners are in talks with staff and unions over a reduction in numbers of full-time staff. There are currently about 120.
“It is very likely there will be redundancies as a result of the departure of the Barfleur,” said chief executive Jim Stewart.
“It has a huge impact on us. We have lost over 20 per cent of revenue. Consequently it’s unavoidable – we have to look to the structure of the business going forward.”
He said no redundancy numbers had been decided – although an employee told the Echo they had been told 65 jobs were at risk, covering every department.
“We are in talks with our employees and our unions. I would expect us to make some decisions very shortly,” said Mr Stewart.
Brittany Ferries’ shock announcement that it was withdrawing the Barfleur passenger ferry after 17 years and ending the year-round link between Poole and Cherbourg, came last December.
Although the port retains the Cotentin freight ferry, the Normandie Vitesse fast ferry running daily from May to September, and has Condor Ferries and Channel Seaways to the Channel Islands as well as cargo traffic, its 2008/9 turnover of £9.492 million will suffer.
One long-serving employee said: “Everybody is very, very concerned. Nobody is telling anybody anything.”
Cllr Ron Parker, Borough of Poole cabinet portfolio holder for the local economy, said the council had suspected that the axing of the Barfleur would lead to redundancies.
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Your Say YourEcho
Gastines, St.Malo says...
9:07am Tue 9 Feb 10
Henry Bear, Ferndown says...
9:40am Tue 9 Feb 10
Gastines wrote:Not sure why you think we should consider the fuel cost to the ferry company??
When the fare is compared to Dover crossings please take into account the difference in the distance crossed=extra fuel. Having used the Barfleur hundreds of times over the last 17 years and used my Home Owners discount I found the service competetive in price and very good for service.Easy to load and unload and a much better crossing than the Vitesse or Condor.
It is just the cost to me I am interested in.
You found the serviuce competitive because of your home owner discount...says it all really, to others it is not competitive.
I liked using the ferry myself and used the echo vouchers many times, but not enough i guess.
At least I can still go over in the summer
Mediclogan5, Bournemouth says...
9:51am Tue 9 Feb 10
rayc wrote:Think of the fuel you pumped into your motorhome to get to Dover to use the cheap crossing...false economy I think, it is a sad loss that Poole having a port on its doorstep has lost a year round service to its neighbour port in Cherbourge, true there is the Cat in summer but what are the odds that it sails when you want it to. What a waste.
Poole Harbour killed the Golden Goose. High berthing fees led to extremely high fares on the ferry, which became uncompetetive compared to the Dover / le Shuttle crossings.
For a Motorhome in August £550 return compared to Le Shuttle £130 return.
SonofKinson, Kinson says...
12:35pm Tue 9 Feb 10
.
I too used this service on many occasions. It is a great service, and although it may have been more expensive than other ferry services, I did not have all the travelling to do to get to Portsmouth, or Dover, or elsewhere. So what I saved on fuel and travel was more than compensated by travelling from Poole. Although awkward on the return journey, I will still travel Poole to Cherbourg in the summer months aboard the Vitesse. Come the winter I will be FORCED to travel to another port, putting all my money in that direction. Blame BF, but do not forget to blame PC and DCC
rayc, Wimborne says...
6:15pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Mediclogan5 wrote:I used Poole - Cherbourge route at least once a year ever since 1989. The prices for this year as quoted before the demise of the Barfleur have increased by over £100 over last year
rayc wrote: Poole Harbour killed the Golden Goose. High berthing fees led to extremely high fares on the ferry, which became uncompetetive compared to the Dover / le Shuttle crossings. For a Motorhome in August £550 return compared to Le Shuttle £130 return.Think of the fuel you pumped into your motorhome to get to Dover to use the cheap crossing...false economy I think, it is a sad loss that Poole having a port on its doorstep has lost a year round service to its neighbour port in Cherbourge, true there is the Cat in summer but what are the odds that it sails when you want it to. What a waste.
It does not cost me £400 to drive to Dover and back, perhaps £150 - £180 in diesel. I would love to use Poole - Cherbourg but I can't because the Summer boat will not take Motorhomes.
Jak Branksome, Poole says...
10:55am Wed 10 Feb 10
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rayc, Wimborne says...
8:17am Tue 9 Feb 10
For a Motorhome in August £550 return compared to Le Shuttle £130 return.