Council urged to improve accessibility of ferries

Transport campaigner David Redgewell urged the council to improve the accessibility of Bristol's ferries

A disabled transport campaigner is calling for ferries in Bristol to become more accessible for people who use wheelchairs.

Ferries run from Temple Meads through the harbour carrying passengers around the city centre.

But the Temple Meads stop is only accessible via steps, unless passengers take a long diversion to use a ramp 230 metres (754 feet) away, and only one ferry boat is wheelchair accessible.

Bristol City Council said it was exploring how to improve water transport after transport campaigner David Redgewell urged the authority to improve accessibility, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Integrated ticketing

Speaking during a transport committee meeting on 24 October, Mr Redgewell said: "It looks to me at the moment that for the ferry services, which are important, there doesn't appear to be one authority really picking up responsibility for that service.

"There's a need to make the boats fully accessible."

Councillor Ed Plowden, chairman of the transport committee, said he would discuss the matter with the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) and other policy committee heads.

"I for one would like to see much more progress on mobility as a service and integrated ticketing," he said.

The council said it was "looking at water transport", including routes and costs.

Weca said it was exploring ticket integration between multiple bus rides and journeys using a bus and a train.