This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8473322.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Clyde ferry route 'set to close' Clyde ferry route to end in March
(about 1 hour later)
The Renfrew to Yoker ferry across the River Clyde, west of Glasgow, looks set to close as part of cash savings. The Renfrew to Yoker ferry across the River Clyde, west of Glasgow, will end in March as part of cash savings.
Councillors on Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) have backed plans to save £2.5m from next year's budget. Councillors on Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) voted to withdraw the service as part of wider moves to save £2.5m from next year's budget.
The decision - by 14 votes to five - effectively removes the subsidy which is keeping the ferry link going. SPT said it was making an annual loss of £430,000 to keep the ferry running.
Two passenger-only ferries, which can carry up to 50 people, operate on the route but they rarely carry more than a dozen people at a time. The authority said it was "simply unsustainable" to keep on providing a £3 fare subsidy for every £1.20 fare paid by passengers.
Many journeys typically have only two or three people aboard and the £1.20 single fare is subsidised by up to £2.77 per trip, SPT claimed. SPT chair, Alistair Watson, said the decision had been made with "great regret".
'Difficult choices'
"The decision to close the Renfrew ferry was not an easy one and we recognise that it has served communities across the Clyde very well for a long time," he said.
"The sad reality is that we are living in an exceptional financial climate. Like all local councils we have had to make extremely difficult choices on where to cut public spending."
The decision - by 14 votes to five - means that the two passenger-only ferries operating on the route, will finish their service at the end of March.
Both vessels could accommodate up to 50 people but rarely carried more than a dozen people at a time, with many journeys typically having only two or three people aboard.
SPT said the ferry route was no longer financially viable
The crossing between Renfrew and Yoker, near Clydebank, is a mere 200m, which makes it one of the shortest ferry routes in the world.The crossing between Renfrew and Yoker, near Clydebank, is a mere 200m, which makes it one of the shortest ferry routes in the world.
However, the alternative routes - across the Erskine Bridge or through the Clyde Tunnel - are several miles long and tricky journeys to make by public transport.However, the alternative routes - across the Erskine Bridge or through the Clyde Tunnel - are several miles long and tricky journeys to make by public transport.
Marketing drive
Some campaigners argue that the service could be marketed much more effectively to boost passengers numbers - and that the route could be altered, perhaps taking in the nearby shopping complex at Braehead.
Until the 1960s there were several ferry services across the Clyde at Erskine, Whiteinch, Partick, Govan and Finnieston. But the Clyde Tunnel and the Erskine Bridge made them redundant.Until the 1960s there were several ferry services across the Clyde at Erskine, Whiteinch, Partick, Govan and Finnieston. But the Clyde Tunnel and the Erskine Bridge made them redundant.
The previous Renfrew Ferry was a car ferry and was in service until the 1980s. It is now moored in Glasgow city centre and used as an entertainment venue.The previous Renfrew Ferry was a car ferry and was in service until the 1980s. It is now moored in Glasgow city centre and used as an entertainment venue.
The future of the Renfrew Ferry is typical of the kind of decisions being made by councillors across Scotland as they seek to balance budgets in difficult financial times.The future of the Renfrew Ferry is typical of the kind of decisions being made by councillors across Scotland as they seek to balance budgets in difficult financial times.
About 80% of each council's budget comes from the Scottish government, but public spending is under pressure in the recession.About 80% of each council's budget comes from the Scottish government, but public spending is under pressure in the recession.
Meanwhile, a deal between councils and the Scottish government prevents them from putting up the council tax to raise more cash.Meanwhile, a deal between councils and the Scottish government prevents them from putting up the council tax to raise more cash.