Iconic ferry faces axe after 500 years

A HISTORIC ferry service that dates back 500 years faces the axe because of a spending shortfall, it was revealed yesterday.

The Renfrew Ferry across the River Clyde could be scrapped to save money.

Operators Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) said it has to save about 2.5 million.

Around 140,000 passengers use the Renfrew to Yoker ferry each year. SPT said scrapping the ferry will be among the options at a budget meeting on 22 January.

A spokeswoman said: "SPT, like many other local government agencies and local councils, is facing severe financial problems.

"For next year's budget, we have to find savings of 2.5m. We are looking at every line of our budget including our current subsidies to bus, subway and ferry services. No final decisions have been made nor will be made until SPT's special budget meeting."

The spokeswoman said the ticket price was kept low by around 400,000 of subsidies a year.

The transport authority's budget comes from the Scottish Government and 12 councils. The shortfall is blamed partly on rising costs and fewer passengers.

Labour politicians said the Scottish Government had not provided enough funding.

John Robertson, MP for Glasgow North West, said: "It's yet another example of the SNP-led Scottish Executive being anti-Glasgow and not funding transport. There is clearly no place for Glasgow in the SNP's Scotland."

Jim Sheridan, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: "I'm fed up with the people of Renfrewshire having to suffer the consequences every time the SNP decide on their spending cuts."

But Renfrew North SNP councillor Bill Perrie said: "I am outraged by this proposal from the Labour-led SPT.

"To axe the ferry in Renfrew would be like axing the Glasgow underground for them. This cut at the hands of a Labour-led transport body is appalling.

"SPT would have the taxpayer squander 140m on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link but can't find the sums involved to keep this centuries-old Renfrew-Yoker service running."

A ferry has operated between Renfrew on the south side of the Clyde and Yoker on the north since the 1500s.

The two passenger ferries which cover the route, the Renfrew Rose and Yoker Swan, were introduced in 1984.

One ferry is always kept in reserve for periods of maintenance and repair. Each boat can carry 50 passengers but rarely has more than 12 on a trip.

Mr Sheridan said: "The Renfrew Rose is extremely important for people to get access to their places of work, especially my constituents who mostly depend on public transport."

In 2008, talks were held on replacing the ferry with a bridge.