Sandbanks Ferry users face 'paying extra £2k a year'

More than 200 residents from across Purbeck gathered at Studland Village Hall on Wednesday evening, September 4, to debate the proposed changes. 

Swanage resident Amber Hutchinson said although she tries to work from home as much as possible, she does have to use the ferry as part of her journey to Southampton. 

She said: “Driving round [the long way] is 20 miles, but the difference in price to use the ferry is about an extra £1 per journey to go on the ferry compared with fuel. I love using the ferry; it breaks up the journey.

“I can’t justify paying extra for the ferry; I’d have to drive round. It amounts to about an extra £2,000 a year if I was to stick to my usual routine.” 

More than 200 people attended the public meeting in Studland (Image: Daily Echo)

New prices proposed by the ferry company 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. 

Nick Boulter, chairman of the Studland Parish Council (Image: Daily Echo)

Nick Boulter, chairman of the Studland Parish Council, called the public meeting following what he said was “much anger and annoyance from residents”. 

He said: “For whatever reason, this has caused more anger and annoyance than anything else, more so than the Middle Beach Café [that controversially closed following in January].  

“Normally the parish council meetings are attended by three people, but there are well over 200 people here.” 

Tracey Churcher, general manager for the National Trust in Purbeck, said the trust is having to pay around £30k a year to ensure its employees can come to work. 

She said: “Many of our staff are young and therefore have to come over from the BCP area using the ferry. We have to pay £30k a year for them to come to work.” 

Bramble Bush from Sandbanks (Image: Daily Echo)

Sandbanks Ferry bosses are also proposing vehicles that stay in Ferry Road for more than 30 minutes (essentially using it to park) will have to pay a toll. 

Ms Churcher added the National Trust have no legal say in what happens on the road as the ferry company legally can “do what they want with the road”. 

“We will be objecting non-politically on the basis that it will negatively impact locals and visitors,” she said.

“Lots of visitors are local people and they won’t pay £2k a year to go for a walk.” 

Tourism was brought up by the general manager of the Grand Hotel in Swanage, Lindsay Bish. She said: “Without tourism, we [Purbeck] will have nothing.  

“There are only two modes to get here and if you keep putting up the prices of the ferry, it will put people off.  

“If we don’t get tourists to the hotels and B&Bs, we fold. And without us, there is no tourism economy.” 

Cllr Ben Wilson, ward councillor for South East Purbeck (Image: Daily Echo)

(Image: Daily Echo)

South East Purbeck ward councillor Ben Wilson said Dorset Council is in the process of deciding its stance on Sandbanks Ferry’s proposals. 

“We recognise that the outcome that we want to have here is a viable ferry for the future,” he said.  

“We need the ferry; therefore, we need to work with the residents, the parish council, Swanage Town Council and the National Trust to collectively come up with a response to take to the company.” 

Studland resident Paul Stirling added: “I have a background in asset finance and I can tell you this isn’t a company in distress, it’s earning big bucks.  

“They can easily afford a new ferry today if it was to be financed, which I’m sure can easily be arranged with the laws.  

“But I’m sure ferry could carry on for another 20 years as long as it’s economical and viable." 

While residents were invited to speak in favour of the ferry’s proposals, not one of the attendees spoke in favour. 

Nobody from the ferry company spoke at the meeting or was believed to have been present, despite being invited according to Nick Boulter. 

Jason du Toit, managing director for the ferry, previously said introducing a toll road would “ease congestion at busy times along Ferry Road by reducing parking on the verges”. 

Residents were encouraged to write letters of objection to nationalcasework@dft.gov.uk before the deadline of September 12.  

A public inquiry into the proposals is expected to be held over three days starting on December 10.