RESIDENTS are unhappy with the new Mudeford late ferry service charging an “outrageous” amount.

The water taxi is being trialled by the operator, Mudeford Ferry, and is charging £10 for a single trip. The “premium service” received negative comments on Facebook when the Beach House restaurant made its customers aware of the addition.

One user said: “£10 ‘single fare’ does that mean £20 return? I think we’d walk from Hengistbury Head car park.”

Another commented: “Ridiculous price, should be boycotted !!”

Other users added that the price was “outrageous”, “criminal” and “ridiculous”.

Judith Plumley, Head of Community and Leisure, Christchurch and East Dorset Councils, said: “The evening water taxi to Mudeford is currently being trialled as a voluntary offer by the existing ferry operators and the price has been set by the operators in order to cover their running costs.

“The decision on what to charge for the service is made by the operator and the council has not been involved in this process. The Mudeford ferry operates until 10pm for the standard rate of £1.50 per person so this is a premium service for anyone wishing to cross the water at a later time.”

Ward councillor Trevor Watts said the future of the service would depend on how it was received and used by the public in the coming weeks.

He said: “I think what we have to do here is wait and see what happens if it goes ahead. I hear this is a trial that’s happening. Let’s wait and see.”

This new service comes after Jeremy Carpenter, who co-owns the Beach House eaterie, argued that his customers were leaving early throughout the summer, as the ferry operator’s regular hours only run until 10pm.

He proposed to run a water taxi service which would not be exclusive to his customers, but for anyone wishing to travel to and from the sandbank between 10pm and midnight.

Mr Carpenter had been paying Mudeford Ferry £100 each evening to run a later service, but said he could not continue to meet that cost throughout the summer and now the water taxi is being trialled. Mr Carpenter and the operator Mudeford Ferry refused to comment.