business in the West End as well as further development at Dockyard, the head of the West End Development Corporation charged yesterday.

Mr. George Smith said Wedco had long lobbied for additional ferry service, but was now being slapped with cuts.

He said he was more concerned about the elimination of the 6 p.m. Hamilton to Dockyard ferry than the 6 a.m. service.

The evening ferry was needed to bring in people to fill Dockyard's restaurants and new jazz club. And a late night ferry was needed to take them back, with residents increasingly concerned about drinking and driving.

His views were shared by a Somerset resident in a letter to The Royal Gazette today.

An anonymous ferry rider said that more people would probably catch the ferry if there was an after-6 p.m. service. Nine-to-fivers realistically got out of work after 6 p.m., he wrote.

The writer further pointed out that the ferry was the only public transport service available after 5 p.m. in the Cavello Bay area.

Instead of reducing the ferry service, Government should be increasing it until 10 p.m. so people did not have to worry about drinking and driving, the person wrote.

Mr. Smith said Wedco would be striving harder to secure a private ferry service to serve Dockyard at night, because he had little hope the Marine and Ports Department would fill the gap.

"I just don't think in these economic times Government would find it feasible,'' he said.

In Wedco's just-released annual report, Mr. Smith said: "Lobbying efforts and continued creative discussions must continue with appropriate authorities for the expansion of the ferry service. Failure to do so will severely restrict further creative, sympathetic development and hamper that which has already been accomplished.'' He pointed out developments at Dockyard in the past year included a 400-person conference/special events centre in the Clocktower, the addition of the Frog and Onion pub and Club 21 jazz club, several new shops and upgrades to existing facilities including docks repairs.

Dockyard also hosted numerous successful special events, including concerts, "family Sundays'', fishing tournaments, nature walks and a boat show.

If Dockyard was to continue to expand and attract investors it needed a good transport service so it was accessible, Mr. Smith said.

Discussions were currently underway with private individuals to secure a private boat service for Dockyard, he said.

He added the bus service was not adequate, with the last bus leaving around 10.30 p.m.

Marine and Ports director Mr. Ronald Ross announced earlier this month the cuts would be effective from March 1 and that the department had battled to minimise inconvenience.

But he quickly came under fire, amid claims the cuts would badly disrupt commuters and increase traffic on the roads.

A Somerset woman, in a letter to The Royal Gazette last week, claimed the cuts deliberately targeted regular users like herself, not tourists.