A spokesman for South Hams District Council has told the Chronicle: “The Lower Ferry service does not always operate with two ferries, with one ferry running while refits are undertaken from November to January in the low season.

“Over the winter period, the number of cars carried at this time of year does not appear to justify the use of two ferries, and so we are exploring the extension of time the service would run with one ferry.

“The aim is to run at an appropriate level of capacity to keep the operation efficient financially with no significant effect on the level of service.

“Over the winter period from October to February, the service could operate with one Ferry for 21 weeks, although this would not be a consecutive amount of time, rather the service would run with two ferries for events in the town and during the holiday period.”

Colin Lang, Landlord of The Ship Inn in Kingswear said: “If you are asking me about South Hams most of it is unprintable. I hadn’t heard about the reduced service, I can see that in the middle and depths of Winter, it could be reasonable but I don’t know the numbers.

“Half the time it does go back empty at these times but a longer wait at either side is not going to attract more people. In the early week this could be a problem.

“A better solution is to attract more people into Dartmouth and Kingswear.

“We have lost out in the Regatta to Torquay Air Show and everyone’s business is down. What I would like to see, is someone from South Hams coming and asking me “What can we do to to bring in more tourists, to help business.”

“Instead of always taking money. They put tickets on my car when parking is difficult in Kingswear.

“The Lower Ferry surely makes more than enough money in the Summer to cover its costs in the Winter?

“This is the thin end of the wedge; what’s next, shutting down at 6pm in the Winter? Not running at all on a Sunday?

“South Hams need to think about what they can do to help Dartmouth and Kingswear. Fill the ferry in Winter instead of reducing service.

“There’s talk about the passenger ferry closing down in Winter.”

Nessie Wilson at the Steam Packet was in agreement: “We should have two all the time. We’ve had two boats for some time.”

Those working on the Lower Ferry were, to a man, upset about the proposed reduction. They thought that SHDC were unwilling to listen to their views but would not be quoted reflecting concerns about their jobs.

Jan Henshall, speaking as a resident and a councillor of Kingswear Parish Council but not for the Council, said: “I have already told Hilary Bastone of this. It is easier to get to Brixham and Paignton than it is to catch a ferry to Dartmouth from Kingswear.

“If the passenger ferry has just left, it often seems that the Lower Ferry leaves at the same time. You then have a wait of 20 minutes in goodness what weather. So, it can be easier to jump in the car and drive to Brixham.

“It can’t help Dartmouth shops and services to have a longer wait for 21 months of the year.”

The topic of the proposed service change was raised at the council meeting on Tuesday, June 12th by County Councillor, Jonathan Hawkins. He said: ‘The service change does not mean that from October to Easter we will only have one boat. Holidays periods will have two boats operating.

“It is important that the three district councillors watch carefully to ensure that when Dartmouth needs two ferries it will have them.

“The Lower Ferry service is very important. We have to make sure the service is what we want.”