A popular council-owned ferry linking the shores of Windermere could be sailing into choppy waters.

Fares, operation times and even the future ownership of Windermere ferry have been called into question as part of the drive to improve council services and safeguard tax-payers' money.

Cumbria County Council's on-going Best Value Review will ask councillors to consider a number of questions including:

l Should the council operate the ferry at all?

l Are the operating hours and fare scales correct?

l Should the operation and maintenance be subject to competitive tender?

l How can the service be improved?

CCC officers have stressed that there is no proposal on the table to sell the ferry off but - following legal investigations to establish whether the authority has the right to do so - it has not been ruled out as a potential option.

In peak season the vessel, which costs £27.50 per hour to run, takes more than 500 passengers a day on the short journey from Ferry Nab to Ferry House and the review process looks set to rock the boat among commuters, residents and tourists who make regular use of the chain ferry throughout the year.

Dr Peter Matthiessen, of the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology based at Ferry House, said as many as 80 people could use Ferry House every day and at least three quarters used the ferry.

Cumbria Tourist Board operations director Ian Stephens said it was too early in the review process to comment but said he would be seeking the views of the executive board on the matter.

"We want a service that will enhance the visitor experience and provide for local need.

It is something that will need careful consideration," he said.

Windermere Ferry last hit stormy water in 1998 when CCC introduced a hefty 25 per cent fare increase.

Since then prices have remained the same - £2 for a car and 40 pence for a foot passenger.

But in a report to South Lakeland Local Committee highways and transportation working group, director of community, economy and environment Ralph Howard said because prices had remained fixed for so long the Ferry Advisory Committee had been advised of the need to increase fares from April 2003.

Operating times have also been called into question.

The report said according to a 1998 survey, the ferry was not used often before 8am or after 8pm and added: "There is scope for reducing the operating hours without significantly effecting income."

CCC South Lakes area support manager Stuart Pate said: "There are no proposals at this stage and no hidden agenda."

He added that, although the ferry was making a profit, every four or five years there were costly repairs to cover and around every 30 years the boat needed replacing.

"We have to make sure there is enough money there to pay for those things," he said.

This year the ferry has an estimated income of £392,700 compared to total expenditure of £215,400.

Profits from the service are divided between a reserve fund - set aside to save cash for replacement of costly equipment - and a contribution to CCC coffers of around £100,000 per year.

The Windermere Ferry Advisory Panel represents county, district and Windermere and Claife parish councils as well as the Lake District National Park Authority.

Chairman of CCC Coun Oliver Pearson stressed there were no plans to sell the ferry off and added that any move to do so would be unpopular among council members.

" There is a very strong feeling among the council of continuing support for the ferry.

Every time this is brought up the feeling has been that the ferry should remain in council ownership."

The consultation will be completed by December this year.