RUMOURS that the chain ferry will move its toll booth further up Ferry Road to effectively make its own ‘toll road’ are “nonsense”, its boss has said.
Studland Parish Council had put out posters calling a meeting on September 4 in the village hall to discuss the Sandbanks ferry’s proposals.
As well as the price increases, the poster claimed the ferry company wanted to “move the toll booth nearer to Knoll House Hotel, and charge £6.26 for car users to access Ferry Road whether they use the ferry or not”.
If true, this would effectively mean Purbeck’s residents wanting to use the beach at Studland would have to pay to drive there or park on the road, whereas BCP’s residents would not.
But the ferry company’s managing director Jason Du Toit said the claims by the parish council are “absolute nonsense”, adding: “The rumour mill is in full swing.
“We are not moving the booth at all. It used to be nearer to Knoll house, but it proved to be difficult and we won’t be doing it again.”
He added people have been asking ferry staff about the toll booth and that he had “no idea” where the claims have come from.
Nick Boulter, chairman of Studland Parish Council, questioned how the ferry would raise an extra £50k as stated in its recently resubmitted documents to the DfT for the price increases.
Section 11 says: "The toll for the use of the motor road will be comparable with the toll for a
car to use the Ferry."
Mr Boulter called on the ferry company to withdraw its proposals to the DfT, adding: "It is very detrimental and hostile to the residents of Studland, Swanage and other areas in the Isle of Purbeck.
"If this application is awarded, what is to stop the ferry company coming back in three years and asking for yet higher increases?
"The 2021 order was designed to provide certainty until 2034 by providing annual increases of up to 3 per cent.
"Clearly this is not the case. Presumably even if a new order is given following this application, there is no binding obligation on the ferry company to provide a new ferry in 2034."
The parish council’s meeting will discuss the price increase proposals by the ferry company.
The new price rises could see pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who have paid £1 since 2009 to cross, paying £1.75.
Cars or light vans less than 3.5 tonnes, previously paying £5.30, may have to fork out an extra 96p to pay £6.26, or an 18 per cent increase.
Passenger vehicles such as coaches and HGVs more than 3.5 tonnes could also see an 18 per cent increase from £10.60 to £12.52.
Mr du Toit said previously the costs of running the chain ferry had “risen exponentially”, and the company was under “heavy financial strain”.
Documents submitted to Companies House show the turnover for the ferry in 2022/23 was £2,400,575 compared to £3,049,698 for the previous financial year.
Essex-based Fairacres Group, which runs the ferry, said 2022/23 was a “challenging year” for the ferry while posting a pre-tax loss of more than £721k.
Comments by people with “a substantial interest” can be made in relation to the proposed price rises to nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk by September 12.
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