This Order may be cited as the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) Order 2025 and shall come into force on 30th December 2025.
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) Order 2025
Published: Thu 11th Dec 25
The Secretary of State for Transport made this Order upon application from the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company to revise the maximum tolls chargeable for the use of the ferry service, concluding that the revision is necessary to ensure the Company achieves adequate annual revenue to cover costs and provide a reasonable return on investment.
This Order, which comes into force on December 30, 2025, specifies the new maximum single-use tolls, details tiered discounts for bulk purchases over several years, allows for limited annual inflationary adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, and revokes the previous 2021 Revision of Tolls Order.
Arguments For
The revision ensures the Company receives revenue merely adequate to meet expenditure and costs, providing a reasonable return on investment for maintaining the motor road and ferry.
The Order establishes specific revised maximum single-use tolls for various traffic classes, providing clarity necessary for public use.
It introduces a mechanism for future, limited annual toll adjustments based on the UK Consumer Price Index, ensuring tolls can gradually track inflation.
The Order provides structured discounts for bulk ticket/pass purchases, which may encourage regular usage by frequent travellers.
Arguments Against
Toll increases, regardless of the stated purpose, place a direct additional cost burden on users of the necessary transport link.
The structure allowing adjustments based on CPI risks compounding the financial impact on users over successive years.
The provision limiting dividend distribution to 6% of net asset value or during a deficit may be viewed by the company as overly restrictive on shareholder returns.
Revoking the previous 2021 Order necessitates all users and businesses relying on the previous structure to immediately adapt to the new rates taking effect in late December 2025.
The Secretary of State for Transport makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(2) and (6) of the Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954 (“the Act”), as modified by section 26 of the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Act 1956 and section 23 of the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Act 1986 (“the 1986 Act”).
The Secretary of State for Transport is issuing this Order using authority granted by the Transport Charges &c. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1954, along with modifications made by the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Acts of 1956 and 1986.
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company (“the Company”) has applied to the Secretary of State for an order to be made in exercise of the powers in section 6(2) of the Act, as modified, in respect of the motor road and ferry.
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company requested this revision of its charging powers from the Secretary of State concerning its motor road and ferry operations.
The Secretary of State has consulted with those who have a substantial interest in the undertaking and has complied with the local inquiry requirement in accordance with section 6(2)(i) and (5) of the Act, respectively.
Before making this decision, the Secretary of State consulted relevant interested parties and fulfilled the required process for a local public inquiry, as mandated by the enabling legislation.
In deciding to make this Order in respect of the ferry, the Secretary of State has had regard to the financial position and future prospects of the Company in accordance with section 6(3) of the Act. She has concluded that this revision of tolls is likely to result in the Company receiving an annual revenue which will be merely adequate to meet the expenditure and costs of the Company and will provide a reasonable return upon the investment of the Company in the motor road and the ferry.
The decision to revise the ferry tolls was based on the Company’s current and projected financial health, as required by law.
The conclusion reached is that the new tolls will allow the Company enough revenue to cover operational expenses and yield a fair return on its capital investments in both the motor road and the ferry.
1.
The legal name of this Order is the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) Order 2025.
The revisions specified in this document become legally active on December 30, 2025.
2.
(1)
In this Order—
(a)
“the Company”, “the motor road” and “the ferry” have the meanings given to those expressions by section 2 of the 1986 Act;
(b)
“goods vehicle” and “trailer” have the meanings given to those expressions by section 138(3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the 1984 Act”);
(c)
“passenger vehicle” means a vehicle constructed or adapted solely for the carriage of passengers and their effects; and
(d)
“distribution” shall have the meaning given to that expression by section 829 of the Companies Act 2006.
(2)
For the purposes of this Order the operating weight of a goods vehicle shall be determined as provided in section 138(2) of the 1984 Act.
Sub-section (1) defines key terms: 'the Company', 'the motor road', and 'the ferry' refer to definitions established in the 1986 Act. 'Goods vehicle' and 'trailer' use definitions from the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
A 'passenger vehicle' is defined here as any vehicle built only to carry passengers and their belongings.
The definition of 'distribution' comes from the Companies Act 2006.
Sub-section (2) specifies that the operational weight for goods vehicles must be calculated according to the method set out in section 138(2) of the 1984 Act for the purpose of applying this Order's provisions.
3.
The maximum tolls which the Company may take for the use of the ferry are hereby revised in accordance with Tables 1A and 1B in the Schedule to this Order.
This provision formally revises the highest permissible tolls that the Company can charge for crossing the ferry, directing readers to the specific figures detailed in Table 1A and discount structures in Table 1B within the attached Schedule.
4.
The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) (Amendment) Order 20216 is hereby revoked.
The previous legal instrument governing these tolls, the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) (Amendment) Order 2021, is officially cancelled and replaced by the current Order.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Samantha Collins-Hill A Senior Civil Servant Department for Transport 9th December 2025
This confirms the document was formally executed on December 9, 2025, under the delegated authority of the Secretary of State for Transport by Samantha Collins-Hill, a Senior Civil Servant within the Department for Transport.
SCHEDULE
1.
The tolls for the single use of the ferry set out in this part should take effect from 30th December 2025.
Table 1A – Single Use Tolls for the use of the ferry
Class of Traffic | Single use Toll £ from 30/12/25 |
|---|---|
Pedestrian (one way toll from Sandbanks) | 1.18 |
Pedestrian (one way from Shell Bay) | 0.00 |
Pedal or motor cycle | 1.18 |
Car/light van up to 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 6.26 |
Passenger vehicle > 16 persons (coaches) | 12.52 |
Goods vehicle or similar over 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 12.52 |
Article 3 directs attention here for the specific toll rates for one-time ferry usage, effective December 30, 2025.
Table 1A sets the maximum single-use fares: Pedestrians crossing from Sandbanks pay £1.18, while those crossing from Shell Bay pay nothing (£0.00).
Motorcycles/pedal cycles are £1.18, standard cars/light vans (under 3500kg gross weight) are £6.26, and coaches or heavy goods vehicles (over 3500kg gross weight) are both £12.52.
2.
The discounts for bulk purchases of tickets or passes for use of the ferry set out in this part should take effect from 30th December 2025, with the percentage discounts shown below in Table 1B applied to the single fares shown in Table 1A.
Table 1B – Discounts applicable to single use tolls to use the ferry for bulk purchases
VEHICLE / CLASS | Quantity | Until 31/03/26 | 01/04/26 to 31/03/27 | 01/04/27 to 31/03/28 | 01/04/28 onwards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pedestrian | 50 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
Pedestrian | 100 | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
Pedal or motor cycle | 50 | 10% | 10% | 10% | 10% |
Pedal or motor cycle | 100 | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
Car/light van up to 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 10 | 36.3% | 33.0% | 29.0% | 24.0% |
Car/light van up to 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 50 | 39.6% | 36.7% | 32.8% | 28.0% |
Goods vehicle or similar over 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 10 | 36.3% | 33.0% | 29.0% | 24.0% |
Goods vehicle or similar over 3500kg gross vehicle weight | 50 | 39.6% | 36.7% | 32.8% | 28.0% |
Passenger vehicle > 16 persons (coaches) | 10 | 36.3% | 33.0% | 29.0% | 24.0% |
Passenger vehicle > 16 persons (coaches) | 50 | 39.6% | 36.7% | 32.8% | 28.0% |
This part introduces discounts applicable when tickets or passes are purchased in bulk, commencing on December 30, 2025.
Table 1B shows the percentage reduction applied to the single fares listed in Table 1A, varying by vehicle class and the quantity bought.
The available discount percentages decrease over time; for instance, cars buying 10 tickets receive a 36.3% discount initially, which phases down to 24.0% after April 1, 2028.
3.
The Company may make an adjustment in only April of any year after 2025 in the amount of tolls specified in the Schedule (Table 1A); and any such adjustment will be no more than the percentage difference between the consumer price index for January of that year and the consumer price index for the January immediately preceding the making of this Order.
The Company gains the right to adjust the rates shown in Table 1A annually, but this change can only take effect in April of any year following 2025.
The maximum permissible increase is limited strictly to the percentage change found between the January Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure for that year and the January CPI figure from the year this Order was made.
4.
References in paragraph 3 to the consumer price index are to be the United Kingdom Index of Consumer Prices (for all items) published by the Office for National Statistics (or such other index or substitute for that index which replaces it).
Any reference to the Consumer Price Index must use the official UK Index of Consumer Prices (all items) managed by the Office for National Statistics, or any official replacement index if the current one is substituted.
5.
Subject to paragraph 2 and 3, the Company at any time by resolution may determine the amount of any tolls under paragraph 1, provided it does not exceed the maximum amount set out in that paragraph.
Apart from the specific conditions laid out in paragraphs 2 (bulk discounts) and 3 (CPI adjustments), the Company retains the power, through a formal resolution, to set the actual tolls charged, as long as these charges do not surpass the maximum limits established in paragraph 1 (Table 1A).
6.
Whenever the Company proposes to exercise its power pursuant to paragraph 1, the Company must give notice to the Secretary of State for Transport and not less than 7 days thereafter must publish in at least one local newspaper circulating in the area in which the ferry is situated, and on the Company’s website, a notice substantially in the form set out in Part 2 of this Schedule.
When the Company intends to change tolls using its power under paragraph 1, it must first notify the Secretary of State for Transport.
Subsequently, at least seven days later, it must publicly announce the intended changes by publishing a notice (following the format in Part 2 of the Schedule) in a local newspaper serving the ferry area and on the Company's official website.
7.
The Company may charge the tolls set out in a notice, given under paragraph 6, from 28 days after the day on which the notice is published. However, the adjustment cannot be made before the first day of the following April.
The Company can begin charging the new toll rates specified in the public notice (from paragraph 6) twenty-eight days after that notice appears in the newspaper and online. Nevertheless, if a proposed adjustment is due to CPI changes, it cannot become effective until the first day of the subsequent April.
8.
The toll in respect of any vehicle or class of traffic may not be varied pursuant to this paragraph if less than 12 months have passed following the previous exercise by the Company of its power to amend the toll.
The Company is prohibited from altering the toll for any specific vehicle class if fewer than twelve months have elapsed since the Company last exercised its authority to amend that toll rate.
9.
The Company will make available for inspection at its principal office and publish on the Company’s website its annual accounts for the previous accounting period not less than 28 days prior to any notice under paragraph 6 until after the date of any revision of tolls comes into effect.
Before issuing any notice about toll revisions (as required in paragraph 6), the Company must make its previous year's annual accounts available for public inspection at its main office and must publish them on its website. This accounts publication must occur at least 28 days before the toll change notice is issued and remain available until after the revised tolls take effect.
10.
In any 12-month period the Company may not make any distribution to shareholders which exceeds 6% of the Company’s net asset value or if the Motor Ferry Replacement Reserve is in deficit as shown in its annual accounts for the previous accounting period.
During any twelve-month timeframe, the Company cannot distribute profits to its shareholders exceeding 6% of its total net asset value.
Additionally, no distribution is permitted if the dedicated Motor Ferry Replacement Reserve shows a deficit in the most recent annual accounts.
11.
Where a vehicle is drawing one or more trailers, in addition to the toll chargeable under this Order for the use by that vehicle of the ferry, a toll of the same amount as that chargeable for the drawing vehicle shall be chargeable for each trailer.
If a vehicle is towing one or more trailers across the ferry, the Company can charge a separate toll for each trailer.
The fee for each towed trailer must be equal to the toll charged for the towing vehicle itself.
PART 2FORM OF NOTICE
THE BOURNEMOUTH AND SWANAGE MOTOR ROAD AND FERRY COMPANY INC NOTICE OF REVISION OF TOLLS
The tolls applicable to the Bournemouth and Swanage Ferry shall be—
State revised tolls
The revisions set out above shall take effect on: [a date not less than 28 days after the date of this notice but not before the first day of this coming April].
Signed:
Name:
By a Director for and on behalf of The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company Inc.
Part 2 provides the mandatory structure for the formal public notice required when the Company revises tolls.
The notice must state what the new tolls will be, specify the effective date (which must be at least 28 days post-publication and not before the start of the next April), and include signature lines for a Director of The Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company Inc.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order, made in consequence of an application by the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company, revises the maximum tolls which the Company may charge for use of the ferry and supersedes the toll levels set out in the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry (Revision of Tolls) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/854), which this Order revokes.
The Explanatory Note clarifies that this document formally revises the maximum ferry tolls following a request from the operating Company.
This Order replaces and cancels the toll rates previously established by the 2021 revision Order (S.I. 2021/854).
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