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Work on ferry landing sites to cost £1.8m

Clare Wordenin King's Lynn
Clare Worden/BBC A woman standing in front of a river. Behind her is a grey boat. She is leaning on a metal railing. She is wearing a black top and has short grey hair. Clare Worden/BBC
Karen Champion said the investment would reduce road traffic and increase passenger numbers

A project to replace and refurbish the landing sites used by the ferry that connects the two sides of King's Lynn is expected to cost £1.8m.

West Norfolk Council has been exploring a long-term solution after the ferry service on the River Great Ouse had to close last year while repairs were carried out.

The landing site on the West Lynn side of the river needs to be completely replaced, and the steps on the King's Lynn side need a floating pontoon.

Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk cabinet member Michael de Whalley said the investment would secure the ferry's future for the long term.

A man standing behind the steering wheel of the boat. He has short brown hair and is wearing a black T-shirt.
Skipper Ben Ellis said new pontoons would make the ferry easier to use at low tide

"It's a vital service for the people who live in West Lynn," he said.

"We are putting a lot of money into the Guildhall, which is going to open out on to Ferry Lane, so there will be much more in terms of commercial and tourist use of the ferry as a consequence."

At low tide, the ferry cannot reach the landing site on the east side of the river, and passengers have to cross the mud on wooden boards.

A floating pontoon would mean people could get on board without going near the mud.

A man on board a ferry. He is wearing a white top with a red check pattern. His trousers are cream. He is smiling and wearing black glasses.
Michael de Whalley said the work would secure the future of the service

Ben Ellis, the skipper and co-owner of the ferry, said he was looking forward to the work being done.

"These pontoons would... save me getting in the water and pushing the boat and getting the boards out," he said.

Karen Champion lives in West Lynn and regularly uses the ferry to travel into the town centre.

She said it was used by schoolchildren, commuters, tourists and shoppers, and added: "When there's a major accident or road closure, it completely comes into its own."

West Norfolk Council An aerial view of the King's Lynn ferry as it moves alongside the jetty on the West Lynn side of the River Great Ouse.West Norfolk Council
Damage to the landing site in West Lynn stopped the service last year

The borough council said £800,000 of the funding would come from the community infrastructure levy, which is gathered from developers building in the area.

De Whalley said he hoped the council would put use £500,000 from its reserves and that Norfolk County Council would match that figure.

The county council has been contacted for comment.

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