Commuters in Bournemouth, Dorset, will face higher travel costs starting on 1 April 2026 as tolls for the Sandbanks Ferry are set to increase. The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company received approval for the higher prices from the Department for Transport to help pay for a new ferry vessel.
The government decision follows a public inquiry where the ferry operator explained that it needs to raise £18 million to replace the current boat. The new vessel is required to be in place by 2034, and the company argues that current fares are not enough to cover the high cost of the project.
This move changes a previous agreement from a 2021 inquiry which had limited annual fare increases to roughly 3 per cent until 2031. Local residents and regular commuters between Sandbanks and Studland have expressed concern that the new prices will make the essential transit link less affordable.
People living in the Purbeck and Sandbanks areas rely on the service for daily travel and have described the higher tolls as a significant burden. While the Secretary of State approved the application for the price rises, some modifications were made to the plans to address concerns raised during the review process.
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