A MOVE is to be made to review controversial ticket machines for a south Lakes ferry service.

Newly-elected Windermere councillor Ben Berry has been leading a community campaign for a rethink on the controversial machines in use at the Windermere ferry, and will present a motion asking for a review to Cumbria County Council at its first meeting since the elections in May.

When the ferry ticket machines were installed in June last year, they were hailed as a digitisation exercise that would improve efficiency and benefit ferry users.

The new machines soon began to show the cracks as anger boiled over when locals and visitors struggled to get used to the new system, seeing letters of complaint pile in.

Ben Berry launched a campaign last summer and has been working with the community and users to fight for a simpler system.

Councillor Berry said: "The council urgently needs to rethink the ferry ticket machines.

"They are a complete waste of money and are a significant detriment to what was and should be a wonderful asset for our community. The council can no longer stick its head in the sand and ignore common sense."

It has been claimed that the machines are not only causing anger and frustration but are also reducing the crossings the ferry is taking as tickets are being bought and checked prior to boarding. This means the prior service can no longer be relied upon.