Ferry furore sparks anger

Ferry furore sparks anger

18 September 2024

THE Strangford Lough ferry service is to be suspended for five weeks.

The move — which the Department for Infrastructure says is needed to allow essential health and safety work on slipways either side of the lough — has caused a wave of protest.

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 will be put in place for foot passengers but these have yet to be clarified.

There is also concern that news of the service suspension was only confirmed on Monday afternoon, with the government department insisting the move is necessary to ensure the safety of customers and contractors’ staff.

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

Local politicians have criticised the move, with Strangford MLA Kellie Armstrong submitting an urgent question on the ferry suspension to DfI minister John O’Dowd.

She said the time taken to travel around the peninsula will have a negative impact on many people.

Downpatrick councillor, Cadogan Enright, has also expressed concern at the five week suspension, while Ards and North Down councillor Joe Boyle said the move will cause a “great deal of inconvenience” to those travelling to work and particularly impact on construction workers, the farming community and students.

“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,” he said.

Questioning the five-week suspension Cllr Boyle asked “is this the best the DfI can do?”

He continued: “Have other ways been explored so that such disruption need not take place and does the DfI understand the inconvenience caused by loading the A20 between Portaferry and Newtownards, where there is already a high number of accidents and fatalities, with an even greater number of vehicles?

“There are many issues surrounding the ferry suspension, not least the impact on businesses and visitors to Portaferry and throughout the Ards peninsula.”

Cllr Boyle said he suspected the Department did not realise the “noticeable increase” in traffic the ferry service suspension will bring about.

He added: “I’m very concerned as I know this alternative route by road will make an already bad situation worse. Is this the best and only alternative on offer?.

“The alternative arrangements are not great and probably fall well short of what is needed. What is meant by a bus substitution for some or all and a reduced passenger ferry? Answers are needed.”

SDLP Strangford representative Will Polland said the decision to suspend the ferry service will have a “huge and negative impact” on those living and working in the peninsula. 

“Quite apart from commuters travelling to work and students going to school, the crossing is a vital link for foot passengers and cyclists and impact on patients who may be due to attend appointments at the Downe Hospital.”

Mr Polland described the main road from Portaferry to Newtownards as “not fit for purpose” and said increasing the number of vehicles using it will “only make a bad situation worse”.