This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36483256
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brixham Express ferry passengers cost £170 each | Brixham Express ferry passengers cost £170 each |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Each passenger on a "green" commuter ferry service cost taxpayers more than £170 in subsidies, it has emerged. | Each passenger on a "green" commuter ferry service cost taxpayers more than £170 in subsidies, it has emerged. |
| A total of 3,186 passengers used the service between Brixham and Torquay in Devon from when it started in December 2014 to April last year. | A total of 3,186 passengers used the service between Brixham and Torquay in Devon from when it started in December 2014 to April last year. |
| During that time, the Brixham Express company received £544,000 in subsidies from Torbay Council. | During that time, the Brixham Express company received £544,000 in subsidies from Torbay Council. |
| The authority said the payments, which have since stopped, were in line with the firm's contract. | The authority said the payments, which have since stopped, were in line with the firm's contract. |
| Click here for the latest updates on this story | Click here for the latest updates on this story |
| Figures released to the BBC following Freedom of Information requests show a cost per passenger journey of £171, based on the total subsidies paid by Torbay Council in January and April 2015. | Figures released to the BBC following Freedom of Information requests show a cost per passenger journey of £171, based on the total subsidies paid by Torbay Council in January and April 2015. |
| Steve Darling, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Torbay Council, said: "It's extremely disturbing, they might as well have given them a stretch limo with champagne on ice between Brixham and Torquay." | Steve Darling, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Torbay Council, said: "It's extremely disturbing, they might as well have given them a stretch limo with champagne on ice between Brixham and Torquay." |
| The Conservative-controlled council said it stopped the subsidies last April because the firm started using smaller vessels which did not comply with its contract. | The Conservative-controlled council said it stopped the subsidies last April because the firm started using smaller vessels which did not comply with its contract. |
| When Brixham Express won the contract in 2014 as part of Torbay Council's green travel plan, it promised a catamaran. but it has not arrived yet. | When Brixham Express won the contract in 2014 as part of Torbay Council's green travel plan, it promised a catamaran. but it has not arrived yet. |
| The firm has blamed delays in getting a safety certificate. | The firm has blamed delays in getting a safety certificate. |
| The service started with a number of large hired vessels including the Pride of Exmouth, but since last April it has been using small fishing boats with a maximum capacity of 35. | The service started with a number of large hired vessels including the Pride of Exmouth, but since last April it has been using small fishing boats with a maximum capacity of 35. |
| A council spokesman said: "Post-April 2015 no subsidy has been paid to the company, as they have not been able to comply with the vessel specification contained within the contract." | A council spokesman said: "Post-April 2015 no subsidy has been paid to the company, as they have not been able to comply with the vessel specification contained within the contract." |
| The Department for Transport (DfT) said the subsidies came via the council from the government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund. | The Department for Transport (DfT) said the subsidies came via the council from the government's Local Sustainable Transport Fund. |
| A DfT spokesman said: "Since 2011, we have provided £600m to transport projects across England to improve journeys for local people. It is for the relevant local authorities to make sure these projects are delivered." | A DfT spokesman said: "Since 2011, we have provided £600m to transport projects across England to improve journeys for local people. It is for the relevant local authorities to make sure these projects are delivered." |
| No-one from the ferry firm was available for comment but Brixham Express skipper John Ford said: "With the new fast ferry still not on site people have lost faith in the whole situation which is totally understandable. | No-one from the ferry firm was available for comment but Brixham Express skipper John Ford said: "With the new fast ferry still not on site people have lost faith in the whole situation which is totally understandable. |
| "But this has never been tried before in Torquay and we're going to do our utmost to make it work." | "But this has never been tried before in Torquay and we're going to do our utmost to make it work." |