Guernsey Press

Any opportunity to improve the level of service would be welcome

I FOUND myself nodding in agreement to Peter Falla’s accurate analysis of Condor [Can Condor’s ‘service’ really be called that? Tuesday 20 September], and Condor’s rather bland response.

Published

Condor will know, well in advance, of any routine maintenance due on their vessels and should cover any shortfall in a like-for-like sailing schedule to minimise disruption.

Sadly, the halcyon days of Condor operating for the good of the Channel Islands are well and truly over. Arriving in the UK in the dead of night is of little use to anyone, conversely having to be at Portsmouth by 0700 for a homeward departure necessitates an overnight stay, with added cost and inconvenience.

If Condor revised its departure time from the islands to between 0700 and 1500 hours, this would mean arriving early/late afternoon in the UK, leaving enough daylight hours to get to most destinations. If the boat is cancelled due to weather or technical issues, then a half-hour trip back home is no big deal for most islanders with no additional costs.

Departures from the UK should be from 1800 onwards, giving fare-paying passengers all day to complete a long drive, factoring in time for comfort breaks and delays encountered.

‘We fully accept that our timetables will not be convenient for everyone’. Condor: your timetables are rarely convenient to anyone. Attempting to sail to the UK, which is where the majority of your customer want to go, can be a stressful and expensive drama. Not all of us own second homes in France.

‘Shoulder months have reduced demand for travel.’ Yes that’s true, so what about some seasonal specials in October, November, December with half-price fares for locals, Christmas shopping, theatre packages, concerts etc?

Alternatively, how about a share option limited to islanders? In £10 blocks of 50, up to a maximum of 500. This would help fund a conventional ferry, encourage frequent use, and give frequent travellers a voice. These could be sold, passed on, or may even give a return.

I don’t know if it’s feasible, but I’d welcome any opportunity to improve the level of service we are currently experiencing.

MYLES DRANSFIELD