Exploris success is causing traffic jams

Exploris success is causing traffic jams

24 August 2016

THE huge success of the reopened Exploris aquarium in Portaferry is having a major impact on the Strangford Lough ferry service.

The reopening of the aquarium after a major restoration and investment programme is attracting thousands of people to Portaferry, with many queuing to get in and hundreds more waiting in cars to board the ferry on both sides of the lough.

Councillor Naomi Bailie is urging Transport NI to bring the second ferry which operates on the route into service, while her Portaferry counterpart Joe Boyle said the aquarium’s reopening has “brought the village to life.”

Ms Bailie said every ferry sailing since Exploris reopened has been packed, with queues on both sides of the waterway. She said while ferry service staff are doing their best to cope, there is a need for the second vessel to be brought into service.

“I have been informed there are not enough crew members to launch the second ferry, but the vessel will be operational this Bank Holiday Monday,” she explained. “I have asked for the vessel to be pressed into service this weekend but have no confirmation this will happen.”

Councillor Bailie said it “isn’t good enough” that with the reopening of Exploris and thousands of people making their way to Portaferry using the Strangford Lough crossing that people are forced to “sit for hours waiting on the ferry.” She said there is also “chaos” in Strangford with vehicles wishing to board the ferry backed up through the village.

The politician confirmed she has asked the head of the ferry service to consider recruiting additional staff to man the vessels during seasonal periods. 

Councillor Boyle thanked everyone associated with the campaign to reopen Exploris and said their efforts are greatly appreciated, with Portaferry “coming to life beyond all expectations.” He said he never doubted the aquarium would not reopen.

He continued: “The past two years for me have been the most absorbing, time-consuming but most rewarding in my many years of public service. It has been an amazing journey involving so many meetings along the way with so many people, some positive, some not so positive, some highs, some lows. Through all of this, I never doubted Exploris would not open again.”

Councillor Boyle thanked everyone who supported the major community campaign to save the aquarium form closure, paying special tribute to supporters and organisations whose desire and fight ensured Exploris reopened. 

He added: “We can all now look forward to many tourists arriving in Portaferry, contributing to a stronger and more vibrant economy for the village, the Ards Peninsula and the overall Ards and North Down Borough Council area.”

A Transport NI spokeswoman confirmed that following the reopening of Exploris, the ferry service experienced a “significant increase” in demand compared to normal summer traffic.

She said passenger numbers were almost 25,000 with vehicle numbers approaching 6,800, explaining this compares to an average of approximately 16,000 passengers and 5,500 vehicles in the previous weeks. 

The spokeswoman added: “The ferry service has liaised closely with Exploris to attempt to forecast the number of potential visitors, particularly at busy times. It is planned that a second ferry will operate during the bank holiday weekend and over the next few weeks passenger numbers will be monitored to assist with long-term planning for the crossing.”