Town ferry to return 'by summer if not before'

West Lynn residents Alison Fletcher and Karen Champion said the ferry was a vital connection for their community

A plan has been devised to get a suspended ferry service back up and running by the summer.

West Norfolk Borough Council, Norfolk County Council and the operators of the West Lynn ferry have agreed on steps to repair the boat's landing site.

Residents said it had taken too long to get to this point and criticised the lack of progress updates on its return to service.

West Norfolk Borough Council said they had been grappling with a "significant number of technical challenges associated with this work."

Damage to the West Lynn landing site led to the ferry closing in January

About 400 people a week used the service, which connected West Lynn to King's Lynn, before its closure in January.

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.

West Lynn residents Alison Fletcher and Karen Champion want the ferry back as soon as possible.

Ms Champion said: "It is really quite outrageous.

"There's nothing here to tell people they will not be getting the ferry.

"There were 40 pilgrims left without a way to get over to the other side to their service at Easter."

Ms Fletcher pointed out that the ferry reduced congestion in the town by encouraging active travel.

"The old town and the river is a real tourist attraction," she said.

She is concerned visitors will be put off travelling when the ferry is not operating.

The ferry is used by commuters, school children and tourists

Councillor Michael De Whalley, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity at the borough council, said: "We continued to work together to overcome a number of technical and operational issues, and to design and fund a solution that would allow the ferry to reopen.

"We now have all the jigsaw pieces in place to move forward.

"Whilst it is not yet possible to give an exact date, it is reasonable to say that we hope it can open in the summer, if not sooner."

He said that interim repairs to the landing would be carried out to allow the service to restart.

The borough council voted in February to support medium term improvements to the infrastructure of up to £150,000, to help towards design options and costs for the next stage that would secure a sustainable, long term future for the ferry.

Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, James Wild, has also been pushing for the ferry to reopen.

"Many constituents have contacted me since it stopped in January and I've raised it regularly with the local councils and I am grateful for their efforts alongside the harbour master, the Conservancy Board, and others," he said.

"I will also work with them on longer term plans for the service."