PLANS to increase fares on the Strangford ferry service have been criticised by a local Assemblyman.
Strangford MLA Simon Hamilton said following a review by the Department for Regional Development (DRD), the standard passenger fare will increase by 10p to £1.10.
He said the review also recommends that the standard vehicle fare increases by 70p to £6.50, with the multiple journey vehicle fare rising from £50 to £60.
Mr. Hamilton said while he fully appreciates services like the Strangford ferry crossing are experiencing rising costs and there is an onus to recover a substantial element of these, he’s “deeply concerned” at the level of the proposed fare hike.
“I know that it’s almost two years since the last fare increase, but double digit rises of as much as 20 per cent seem far too high, especially in these difficult times,” he continued.
“The Strangford ferry service is different to many other commercial ferries. For residents in the Ards peninsula and South Down it isn’t merely optional, it’s an everyday essential.”
Mr. Hamilton said people need the ferry to commute to work or to avail of services located on the other side of Strangford Lough.
“People see the cost of lots of things increasing but on top of everything else, this will strike many ferry users as too much to take at this time. Many might also argue that due to breakdowns, refits and weight restrictions, they haven’t always received the service they could expect.”
The Strangford MLA said he understands that the DRD is facing a challenging budget like all other departments, but has asked it to urgently consider the impact these proposals will have on ordinary people who depend upon the ferry.
Mr. Hamilton added: “Has the DRD genuinely considered all options short of raising fares? Asking people to pay 20 per cent more for a service at a time when inflation is running at less than five per cent is difficult to justify.”
A Roads Service spokeswoman explained while the single passenger fare has not increased since 2004 and the vehicle fare has remained unchanged since 2009, the organisation is obliged to review Strangford Lough Ferry fares on a regular basis.
She added: “The Roads Service has recently taken a review of the fares to the Regional Development Committee and the Committee has asked for the proposal to be reconsidered.”