Guernsey transport watchdog could fold as support ends

Passengers are being advised to direct future complaints directly to the carriers

Guernsey's travel watchdog could close down after the Commerce and Employment Department decided to withdraw support.

The Guernsey Transport Users Committee (GTUC) fields complaints from members of the public about services provided by ferry and air travel companies.

Hugh Bougourd, the committee's chairman, said: "I'm disappointed. It's necessary from a public point of view that we are there as a watchdog."

The department said the committee "did not represent good value for money".

A spokesperson said: "The GTUC duplicates the activities of the department's trading standards service in terms of dealing with customer complaints."

The department said its support for the GTUC costs £2,000 a year, in addition to which it provided an average of 126 hours of secretarial support.

The Commerce and Employment spokesperson said transport users who wished to make complaints, should in future contact the customer services departments of the carriers themselves.

The current support is set to be withdrawn from the end of the year.

Mr Bougourd said he and his fellow committee members would look for a way to continue their work.

"The general feeling is that we want to stay together," he said.