Gosport Ferry Pontoon

I have been told that the Gosport Ferry Pontoon is due for a refit after 25 years, I travelled to Portsmouth from 1978 to 1983 (I have also commuted to Portsmouth at other times) on the old pontoon. I seem to remember it was not far short of finishing the new one when I was moved to Southampton in 1983. The old one had a flat corrugated iron roof with poles holding the roof up and a half height fence around it. Not pleasant in the wind and rain, also at rush hour there was little chance of being under the roof.

At the time I understood that the pontoon was owned by Gosport Borough Council and leased by the ferry company. This was different to the Portsmouth side as I understood the pontoon was owned by the train company and when work was required there was a battle between the train and ferry company over who was going to pay and how much of the area to the pontoon would be paid for by the ferry company. At one time they were saying that there would be a toll of 2p for going up and down the pier to the pontoon. In the end I think the ferry company took responsibility for the pontoon and an arrangement was made for the rest. I even feel that you can tell where the change is made as you walk up from the Ferry to the Hard Interchange.

I feel that the current battle is a similar one to that. I understand the estimated cost is £3,000,000 and the number of annual journeys is 3.8 million (from the ferry company web site). I do not go to Portsmouth as much as I did (partly as my dentist in Southsea went private, but that is another story) but from my records the adult two-way fare increase from £1.60 to £1.80 between May and June 2006 and from £1.80 to £2 between February and July 2007. So there is a 20p or over 10% fare increase each year, or three time the recorded rate of inflation. I understand transport does go up at least double inflation and last year fuel increases would have been another reason. I understand fuel prices have fallen since then and we are only a couple of months from what may be expected to be the next annual increase.

If you say of all the journeys 1 million are adult fares that gives £200,000. I do not know what the ferry company pays the council, but it was known 20 years or so after the last major rebuild , another would be required . So was the council charging enough as a rent to cover the rebuild ? did they keep it or spend?

I have heard people claiming that the ferry would close. I cannot see the Falklands Holding Co is going to want to lose all their investment. They could run from the pontoon in Clarence Yard, though a bit of a pain in particular for visitors in the summer, where would people park? would buses run there?

Perhaps it would close, who would then come to Portsmouth for a visit then pop across to Gosport, or stay in Gosport as an option and go to the places in Portsmouth, so Gosport could be a lot quieter next year. Also 1,000's of extra cars going up the A32 would not be fun, a new road would cost more. Ms Glenda Jackson suggested buses as a replacement for the Light Rapid Transport, but they can only travel at the speed of the cars, unless you have bus lanes. I feel a lot of houses or at least gardens up the Fareham Road, and Gosport Road, Fareham, would have to go.

Perhaps if the ferry does go, an event could be arranged, where those responsible at the ferry company and councils could be persuaded to walk off the end of the pontoon? Ian