No date set for reopening of ferry service

2 days ago

Neve Gordon-Farleigh & Chris Goreham

BBC News, Norfolk

Structural issues include cracked concrete steps on the West Lynn side of the river

Alison Rawson/Geograph A white boat on the River Ouse. On the side of the boat it says "Lynn Ferry" in blue letters. There are two passengers and a pilot on board. — Structural issues include cracked concrete steps on the West Lynn side of the river

A ferry service used by 400 passengers a week is yet to receive a reopening date after it was closed for safety repairs.

The passenger service across the Great Ouse between West Lynn and King's Lynn in Norfolk has been suspended from operation since January.

A meeting between the ferry operator and council officers will be held on Tuesday to discuss the next steps.

"We are working as fast and hard we we can to try to get the ferry back," said Michael de Whalley, King's Lynn & West Norfolk Council's cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity.

"[It depends on] whether we can get the ferry running before the ferry operator has to pull out, and that is a weight on my shoulders."

Structural issues including cracked concrete steps and a damaged jetty on the West Lynn side of the river were identified during scheduled maintenance work on 14 January.

Karen Champion, who lives opposite the ferry, said it was a "very sociable way of getting to town", but she now goes to Wisbech and Terrington St Clement for her shopping.

She said: "It's one ferryman for the ferry, and it took a long time to find somebody... we are down to one person who does 12-hour days and it's very, very valuable."

The ferry service was suspended in January

Dave Hitchborne/Geograph A white boat is docked next to a row of concrete steps, with the wide river beyond it. — The ferry service was suspended in January

The service is privately run, although it is partially funded by the council.

Mr De Whalley said the jetty that needed repairing was delaying the reopening of the service.

"This jetty dates back to 1831, or just after, and is now in a poor state," he said.

"What we don't know is whose responsibility it is, and that creates additional complications to the process, but we have been working... to find out who is responsible for the jetty."

A joint statement from the borough council and Norfolk County Council said they had agreed to short-term remedial work to allow the ferry to restart.

"We fully recognise the ferry's importance to the town and have prioritised work to understand what is needed to safely reopen the service as soon as practically possible," the statement said.

"Public safety remains the top priority in everything we do."

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