Redundancies cannot be ruled out for staff at the Sandbanks Ferry, which operates between Studland and Sandbanks in Dorset, as it prepares for the change to a cashless operation.
The ferry company employs around 40 permanent and seasonal workers, all of whom live locally, including those who staff the tollbooths on Ferry Road, Studland.
‘No Cash’ signs have already gone up in the booths ahead of 1st April when the ferry will only take electronic payment
Consultation process has begun
But after an announcement that the Sandbanks Ferry Company was to increase tolls by between 16 and 18 percent from Wednesday 1st April 2026, and end cash payments at the same time, it is now looking to make efficiency savings.
Chair of the Sandbanks Ferry Mike Kean has accepted that the new payment systems, which will involve fully automated toll payments and possibly automatic number plate recognition cameras (APNR), could lead to redundancies.
There are no immediate plans to remove the toll booths on Ferry Road, and they will be manned until the new automatic system is in place and operating smoothly at some point later in 2026.
But a consultation process has already begun for staff who work in the toll booths and the whole team has been briefed on changes to the company, while community events were held at The Grand Hotel, Swanage on Wednesday 11th March 2026, and in Sandbanks the following day.
The ferry between Studland and Sandbanks will undergo ‘digital transformation plans’
“Fully cashless from 1st April”
Mike Kean said:
“We are currently taking the business through a digital transformation to ensure that our systems and processes are fit for the future, aligned with modern standards, and that our operations are as efficient as possible.
“The adoption of efficiency measures is vital to ensure the long-term future of the ferry service.
“We have also been notified that the software supplier we use for our tolling system will shortly cease business, which has forced us to expedite our digital transformation plans.
“As previously published, the ferry company will be fully cashless from 1st April 2026. Anyone with paper tickets will still be able to redeem them for travel, and the toll booths will remain open and staffed.”
The ferry company has said there could be jobs lost in specific toll-related roles
“Small number of redundancies”
Mike Kean added:
“Later this year, we will be introducing new, automated toll payment systems for all classes of passengers. We are still finalising the details with our chosen suppliers and will share further details on how toll payments will operate in due course, well ahead of any changes taking effect.
“When the new systems are implemented, we know there will be a settling in period and ensuring passengers are supported through this transition is our priority.
“We will be over-staffing the ferry during the transition period to assist with any questions or queries passengers may have.
“Automated tolling processes allow for significant efficiencies for the ferry operation, including helping to minimise traffic queues, but regrettably could result in the need for a small number of redundancies for those in specific toll-related roles.
“We are at the beginning of a formal consultation period and are taking all steps possible to look after our affected team members.”
Sandbanks Ferry carries a lot of visitors between Purbeck and Poole during the summer months
Petition started to keep staff
Lloyd Hatton, MP for South Dorset which includes Swanage and Studland said:
“I have asked the Studland Sandbanks Ferry Company to provide a full update on the planned move to cashless payments and the potential redundancy of toll booth staff.
“It’s important that we understand how these changes will impact local people who rely on the ferry service, and I’ll be seeking clarity on what steps are being taken to protect service quality and support staff throughout this process.”
And a Change.org petition has already been started urging people to opposed any proposed redundancies amongst ferry staff.
Petition organiser Anthony Evans said:
“By preserving these positions, we preserve more than jobs. We keep intact vital community ties and safeguard a beloved service that contributes to the character and safety of our ferry operations.
“Let’s show our support for the Swanage Ferry toll operators by urging the decision-makers to rethink these redundancies.”
Lloyd Hatton MP, who gave evidence to the ferry inquiry, is now asking for clarity on what is being proposed
“They’ll find they’ve an empty ferry”
The news has already caused outrage on Facebook forums, where contributors have suggested a boycott of the ferry, while writing to the ferry company to explain why drivers will be taking the roads between Swanage and Poole instead.
Dozens of people have praised the cheerful toll booth staff as being perfect ambassadors to welcome visitors to Purbeck, while many have questioned the wisdom of refusing to take cash and wonder what will happen when electronic payment systems fail.
One Facebook writer, Jeanette Goodacre of Leicester, said:
“This is such a shame – it’s the best part of the holiday, arriving and waiting for the ferry to cross from Poole to Swanage, with a welcome smile on arrival from staff.
“I love sitting and waiting on the return journey watching the birds at the feeders at the toll booths. This is just profit over jobs.”
Angela Heron added:
“If there’s a power outage, a provider issue, general IT blackouts, or the wind’s in the wrong direction, they’ll find they’ve an empty ferry.
“Systems aren’t hardwired end to end, they go through a variety of gateways, servers, clouds and whatnot, any outage by their data comms providers and it’s toast for the ferry.”
The ferry inquiry held at the Port of Poole in January 2025 did not discuss road tolls or potential redundancies
Another attempt to set up road tolls
It has also been suggested that the move may be followed by another attempt to set up automated tolls further down the road at Studland, which was mooted in 2024.
In its original plan, the ferry company wanted to reintroduce a road toll on Ferry Road for vehicles that just wished to access the area but not travel on the ferry, using ANPR.
Before dropping the idea in 2025, the company envisaged enforcing payment by mobile patrols, but said it would exempt anyone using the ferry, queuing for the ferry, travelling to Shell Bay restaurant, the boatyard, the house boats or any National Trust property.
Will ANPR cameras eventually be set up beyond Knoll House Hotel?
“Wanting to make itself more efficient”
Nick Boulter, chair of Studland parish council, said:
“We can’t object to the ferry company wanting to make itself more efficient and viable, everyone else in the world is going the same way at the moment.
“But we have some people in the village who work for the ferry and any talk of redundancies because of the ferry company going totally electronic would be a concern.
“There was nothing in their submission to the inquiry about making money savings through redundancies or improved efficiencies, this seems to have been kept quiet.”
Studland beach is popular with local dog walkers, and access should not be charged for, says Studland parish council chair Nick Boulter
Illegal overnight camping
Nick Boulter added:
“There was talk of putting an ANPR reader close to the Knoll House Hotel, but I’m not sure that can be done without approval from Dorset Council as it is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, and I will talk to the council about it.
“If a charge ever does come in for entering the boundaries of what the ferry company considers its land, we will want to make sure that people from Studland and Swanage can continue to park there free to walk or to exercise their dogs.
“However, if such a scheme was to lead to a reduction in illegal overnight camping along Ferry Road, that would be welcomed.”
Further information
- Further news on changes will appear on the Studland Ferry website
- A petition to halt any redundancies has been launched at Change.org
