Department defends five-week suspension of Strangford ferry

Department defends five-week suspension of Strangford ferry

25 September 2024

A LEADING government department is defending its decision to suspend the Strangford Lough ferry service for five weeks.

The Department for Infrastructure says the suspension is needed to allow essential health and safety work on slipways either side of the lough totalling £300,000 to take place.

Ferry service users say the suspension, which begins on October 14, will cause widespread disruption and inconvenience and hit them in the pocket as they face increased travel costs due to   an 80-mile round trip by road.

Concern has also been voiced about the impact the suspension will have on workers, students, people attending hospital appointments in Downpatrick, businesses and visitors to the area.

There will be no vehicle crossings during the work on the slipways, but alternative arrangements,  which have yet to be clarified, will be put in place for foot passengers.

DfI officials have confirmed that a bus substitution service for some or all school pupils who normally travel from Portaferry will also be in place during the suspension.

The government department says it recognises the importance of the ferry service for local communities and understands the inconvenience that the essential maintenance works will cause.

The DfI said it recognises the importance of the ferry service to the community and that the timing of the health and safety improvements was “carefully considered”.

Officials say that following a review of passenger numbers, predicted tide times and the school holiday schedule — which includes a half-term break — the decision was taken to stop the service in mid-October to reduce disruption.

“Passenger numbers for July and August compared to October and November over recent years, show an average reduction in total passenger numbers of almost 40%,” the department said in a statement.

A number of local politicians have criticised the move, with several highlighting that the suspension will lead to a significant increase in traffic on an already very busy and structurally poor road linking Portaferry and Newtownards where there often closures to allow maintenance work.

The impact on businesses has also been highlighted by elected representatives.

Ferry service users have also taken to social media to vent their anger and frustration about the suspension of the service with one describing the move as “simply not good enough”.

One Strangford resident posted: “For far too long the people of Strangford and Portaferry have been highlighting the inadequacies of the ferry service which is a crucial connection for our community.

“Many of us rely on it for our jobs, education and day-to-day life. Yet, time and again, we find ourselves cut off from essential routes and even now we are facing a reduced timetable with no vehicle service for five weeks. This is unacceptable.

“We have been asking for improvements for years and our voices continue to go unheard. When will our concerns finally be taken seriously?

“Temporary solutions like bus substitutions or reduced ferry services only highlight the fundamental issue — the infrastructure is not fit for purpose. What we need is a permanent solution, a bridge that will guarantee reliable and uninterrupted access for all.”

The resident added: “The people of Strangford, Portaferry and local communities deserve better. When will our councillors acknowledge our frustrations and champion our call for a proper infrastructure investment, not just stop gap measures?”

Strangford MLAs Kellie Armstrong and Nick Mathison and Downpatrick area councillor Cadogan Enright have written to Stormont infrastructure minister John O’Dowd about the five-week suspension seeking clarity on the decision which led to the move.

They have asked why a dedicated foot passenger ferry has not been provided for schoolchildren, what additional bus services Translink will offer between Strangford and Downpatrick and when the schedule for the proposed foot passenger ferry will be published.

Describing the suspension as “unacceptable”, Mr Mathison said it will severely disrupt the daily commutes of many residents.

Further updates about alternative arrangements will be available when confirmed at  https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/strangford-ferry-timetable