The future of Haylings ferry will be discussed today at Portsmouths Civic Offices. The harbour board will be assessing the future of the service in light of pontoon fees increasing. Previously Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council have split the 20000 cost but earlier this year the city decided to cut its funding.
Having owned the ferry for 30 years Frida Edwards has put forward a proposal for how the harbour board charges. Mrs Edwards states that her idea will do away with the need for subsidies. The proposal is based on usage and would bring charges into line with what fishing charters fork out.
The cost for pontoon use is currently 45000 a year 20000 for the licence and 25000 for maintenance. Frida said: The harbour board is a private enterprise. Why should someone else have to pay for maintenance? Its like being a tenant in a house and being told if you want to stay there you have to pay for the repairs to the roof.
Harbour master Nigel Jardine commented: The licence reflects the fact the pontoons are used mostly by the ferry. The 20000 licence is to use the infrastructure. There is also a disproportionate cost to maintain that infrastructure for the main benefit of the ferry. The board does not need such big pontoons but we maintain them because we think the ferry service is a good thing. The board will decide in due course if it wants any at all.
