00:00An empty pier stretching off into the Thames, a quiet reminder that this was once a bustling connection point for ferry services between Gravesend and Tilbury.
00:13The ferry service has been out of action since the spring of last year after Thurrock Council pulled its funding.
00:22Essex-based Clive Robertson was one of the regular users of the ferry. He says it's never been harder to see his friends on this side of the river.
00:34We are upset and put out. I've travelled round this morning on a bus. Probably took me about one and a half hours because you have to change buses two or three times.
00:45It was so convenient, so, so convenient for people, whether you did use it three times a year or three times a week.
00:51But there is renewed hope that the Lower Thames Crossing, designed to ease Dartford congestion and create another transport link across the river, could be the answer.
01:03With Gravesend MP Dr Lauren Sullivan spearheading a campaign for toll money on the upcoming infrastructure project to be used to secure the long-term future of the service.
01:16It really needs to deliver for our local economy, our local people.
01:23We've got businesses around the area that have people that work for them that are going across all the time using this crossing now because they can't use a ferry crossing.
01:34Dr Sullivan has floated the proposal with the Treasury.
01:37And while there was no commitment to bringing back the ferry, when we caught up with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, she didn't rule it out.
01:47And of course we want to make sure that the Lower Thames Crossing benefits people in Gravesham.
01:52I know that it will and I know that that investment into the local area will have benefits.
01:57We'll work through the details, both with Lauren but also the local council and local people.
02:02But we want this project to work for the people who are hosting the infrastructure and that's people in Gravesham.
02:07The proposal is still early days.
02:10The £10 billion crossing isn't expected to wrap construction until 2034, with all details still under consideration.
02:22So currently we're putting together those plans as to how you could take a toll from the crossing and then put it into private finance.
02:30That's got a couple more years to run, probably till 2028.
02:33So lots of thoughts and we need to make sure it's a sort of community focused, local.
02:39But for businesses struggling with lower footfall, that wait is still too long.
02:46Jan Savin manages Duelist Creations.
02:49He said they considered closing the business after ferry services ceased operating.
02:56I worry every year, when we renew the contract and everything, you think about it twice.
03:01It's not popular anymore.
03:03Before it was quite busy and now it's quiet.
03:07You can realise something's wrong.
03:10Work is ongoing to find prospective operators and get the ferry back up and running.
03:15But despite positive signals from on high that progress is being made,
Be the first to comment