Gosport Ferry bids for support after 'staggering' 90 per cent drop in passengers

Gosport Ferry has furloughed 16 of its 36 staff and has seen a 90 per cent decrease in people using it to cross Portsmouth Harbour during the pandemic.

Councils have deferred a £42,000 monthly charge during the crisis but the company has around £150,000 worth of bills to pay each month.

High-level virtual face-to-face talks with transport secretary Grant Shapps and minister Kelly Tolhurst have taken place with Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage.

The firm declined to comment as it awaited news from ministers. A statement on its website said: ‘In line with all transport operators the drop in the number of fare-paying passengers has been staggering as people follow the government guidelines and stay at home for all but essential travel.

‘Meanwhile the costs of running the ferry are still significant as we strive to maintain a service to transport our NHS staff, carers, and other key worker heroes to and fro across the harbour. We continue to seek government support, but sadly, so far, nothing has been forthcoming.

Government is looking to Hampshire and Portsmouth councils - who between them have been given nearly £66m from the government in coronavirus funding - to help the firm. Solent LEP is also in the mix.

MPs in the area have written to ministers asking for support and said ‘the value of Gosport Ferry may not have been fully appreciated’.

Ms Dinenage told The News: ‘We do want the government to help but equally I think it’s really important that two local authorities and the LEP, that have had a substantial amount of funding, also play their part. That’s why I’ve called for a local meeting.’

Funding of £10.5m has been made available for lifeline transport links between the mainland and Isle of Wight.

But Gosport’s ferry service is not classed as a lifeline service as people can drive around between the peninsula and Portsea Island.

Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said the ferry was an ‘essential service’ and added: ‘Sadly government support packages have not supported Gosport Ferry so far bringing uncertainty to those who work for the company and those who benefit from the service.’

Gosport Ferry has seen a year-on-year reduction in passenger numbers since 2015 - down from 2.92m to 2.55m last year.

But its most recent accounts show a 0.4 per cent growth in revenue.

Accounts for the year to March 2019 show the average yield per passenger increased from £1.41 to £1.62.

Turnover hit £4.34m last year, with post-tax profit at £289,000 - down more than £100,000 on the previous year.

Anne-Marie Mountifield, chief executive of Solent LEP said: ‘The Gosport Ferry service is needed now more than ever, providing vital connectivity for our key workers to support the response to Covid-19, including staff in the NHS, local authorities and other key workers. There is an acute lack of alternative provision, with Gosport having no rail link, and a two-bus journey which takes over an hour and 40 minutes.'

She added: ‘We have been working in close partnership with colleagues at the Gosport Ferry, as well as members of parliament for Gosport and Portsmouth, and the leaders of Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council, to ensure the government are aware of the importance of this link and provide support for the continued operation of the ferry in a way that is similar to the support provided to maintain other essential bus, rail and ferry services.’

Portsmouth council deputy leader Steve Pitt said: 'The three councils are working together to cover some of the shortfall through deferring fees and charges, and we support the Gosport Ferry in its efforts to seek further financial support from the government.'

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