AS A ferry operative myself, I read the letter by Alex Brodie regarding the hoped-for return of the previous ferry payment system (Letters, August 31, 'On-board paying plea').

Although it is true that we do indeed take payments from wireless hand-held devices, these are for card payments only, not for any cash transactions.

This method of payment is intended to speed up operations and for the added convenience for card-carrying customers.

It is certainly no admission that requesting folk to purchase tickets onshore was a mistake - drivers with money only still need to extricate themselves from their vehicles to offer the coins to the machines. This operation should take no longer than a few minutes, particularly as there are now two dedicated ticket dispensers and generally someone on hand to provide assistance.

Mr Brodie and a vocal local minority seem to be blind to all other considerations other than their own.

The county council must also consider matters such as the safe storage of money accrued. It is important to realise that the handling of large amounts of cash by ferry personnel is simply not acceptable as it places a huge onus of responsibility on our skipper and the rest of us.

Not only is there a potential for sums to go astray, our crew becomes a real target for violent robbers - particularly after dark.

Mr Brodie continues that reverting to the previous system would result in more frequent sailings. During the height of the peak holiday season last month - thanks to the dedication of my colleagues - we were regularly able to see a full ferry load sail off, disgorge, re-load and sail back, all within 25 minutes.

This is not a bad record and any more 'efficiency' would, I believe, compromise safety.

I would therefore respectfully ask Mr Brodie and others of his opinion to bear these wider points in mind, and to graciously accept that the new onshore payment scheme is likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Trevor Pollard

Newby Bridge