Green perspectives on Stockwood and Bristol. Mostly.

Sunday 23 December 2012

Ferry rescue

Odd that the news hasn't been more widely spread – 48 hours on, and only the BBC seem to have picked up on it. 

After Bristol Ferry Co went into administration, its fleet of five boats was auctioned off on Thursday.   The good news is that they'll stay in the harbour; having been bought by an ad hoc consortium, which plans to restore harbour services under the flag of 'Bristol's Ferry Company'.

It was BBC Radio Bristol that broke the news on Friday afternoon in their drivetime programme (here, at 1hr.16).   In an interview with John Grimshaw (the John Grimshaw?) it was revealed that 30 donors had submitted the successful bid (it's the good fortune of Bristol, or at least a part of it, to have such funds readily available – I doubt many places are so lucky). 

According to John Grimshaw, the plan now is to launch a community interest company to run the ferries as a public service, co-ordinating services with other operators, and joining other public transport operators to provide integrated ticketting.  That'll put First Bus on the spot!

I can see it now...  the 36 bus to Netham Lock, then the ferry along the Feeder into town, or maybe just to the shiny new interchange at Temple Meads.   Maybe.

8 comments:

bsk said...

"Odd that the news hasn't been more widely spread – 48 hours on, and only the BBC seem to have picked up on it. "

You wouldn't have been expecting our esteemed local rag to have broken this story would you?

But good news, wherever it came from.

Liz Lister said...

"...the 36 bus to Netham Lock, then the ferry along the Feeder into town..."

That's all I've ever wanted, right there!

Great news, hope it works.

Harry Mac said...

This is cheering news - bet our mayor was involved.

Woodsy said...

This is cheering news - bet our mayor was involved.

I don't recall seeing a pair of red trousers in the rescue meeting held in a back room of the Nova Scotia that I witnessed.

Stockwood Pete said...

Any ideas what's happened to the hydrogen ferry?

According to the Post it's a joint venture between the city, No.7 Boats, Bristol Packet, and Auriga Energy, and it should have started public trips back in October.

It would be good if a reinvented Bristol's Ferry Co was part of the same project.

Woodsy said...

Any ideas what's happened to the hydrogen ferry?

I don't know about the ferry itself, but a hydrogen refuelling station for it has appeared in recent months on the south side of the Cumberland Basin.

Stockwood Pete said...

Thanks Woodsy.

And I see the Post has found out about the ferries at last

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