Hythe Ferry Users Group meets regularly to discuss ways of improving the service, to encourage people to use it and to gauge any feedback for ferry bosses

The eight-member group is angry that spiralling business rates could eventually cost White Horse Ferries thousands of extra pounds that they cannot afford to pay.

Chairman Ted Vaughan, retired, of Dibden Purlieu, said: "It's good that the Daily Echo is trying to keep the local community informed of the problem."

Mr Vaughan performed the official honours when the pier was reopened in January 2004 - after a dredger ploughed through it leaving a huge hole.

Fellow member Terry George, a railway signal engineer of the Hollybank estate in Hythe, said: "I don't want to have to drive to Southampton from here and have to pay to park. It is much quicker and easier to go across on the ferry and more environmentally friendly. The bus takes a long time because it has to go the long way round."

David Smith, Hythe and Dibden Parish council's representative for the users' group, said: "The parish council is fully behind any campaign to keep the ferry running."

The chairman of the parish council added: "It is an important link for our residents. It wouldn't bear thinking about what would happen if it closed. The extra pressure on the A326 would be tremendous.

The majority of the town is behind the campaign, not just ferry users but also people who use the A326."

The HFUG, established in August 1998, meets every couple of months.

Go to our special Hythe Ferry Campaigns section to download a petition form.