A Somerset resident who faces being stranded in the West End on weekends after ferry schedule changes has accused Government of catering to tourists instead of residents.

Now Jason Fostine-DeSilva has launched a campaign to get the Cavello Bay service back. Within 48 hours of circulating a petition, 128 people signed it.

The weekend Cavello Bay service will end this summer. The last ferry running week nights will be at 9 p.m.

Mr. Fostine-DeSilva lives five minutes from Cavello Bay ferry stop and uses it daily to commute to and from Hamilton.

He said a Marine and Ports official told him the change was being made to accommodate cruise ship visitors docked in Dockyard.

More ferries would be allowed to service the tourists ? something Mr. Fostine DeSilva finds unacceptable.

?They seem to be more interested in chasing the tourist dollar than taking care of their people.?

Attempts to get an explanation from the Ministry of Transport were unsuccessful, although a spokesperson said she was aware the schedule has been altered to increase efficiency.

It would take ferry users 15 to 20 minutes to walk to the next closest ferry stop, Watford Bridge, in order to use public transport. Mr. Fostine-DeSilva said a lot of elderly people used the stop who could not walk that far.

For him it would be a considerable inconvenience because he cannot take his cycle on bus.

Mr. Fostine-DeSilva said he needed a cycle as part of his rehabilitation from a fear fatal bike smash.

The 36-year-old explained that cycling helped him cope with Ataxia, a condition which gives him jerky and uncoordinated body movements and means he can only walk slowly.

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was disappointed Government was not fulfilling its service to West End residents.

?They don?t seem to realise that it is a service and they can?t just cut it off when tourists come, we live here and pay for it,? he said.