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Water taxi plan moves a step closer to reality
AN AMBITIOUS plan to use water taxis to shuttle thousands of commuters and tourists up and down the River Nene has moved a step closer to reality.
AN AMBITIOUS plan to use water taxis to shuttle thousands of commuters and tourists up and down the River Nene has moved a step closer to reality.The “park and glide” river bus was given a test run yesterday on the Peterborough waterway to show civic leaders the 500,000 green transport venture is viable.
On board were Peterborough City Council’s new leader Cllr Marco Cereste, who sees the water taxi scheme as a way of rejuvenating the waterways and an eco-friendly form of travel, and leading representatives of the Environment Agency and the city’s regeneration company, Opportunity Peterborough.
It was piloted by Simon Clarke, operations manager of the Spalding Water Taxi company, which ferries 20,000 visitors every year.
After the 45 minute plus round trip from the Customs House, on the Embankment, to Orton Mere, Cllr Cereste said: “I want to make this work.”
The trip was told it could take two to three years to get the water taxi scheme running.
A vital factor in its success will be securing the 500,000 needed, which would help pay for water taxis, which cost 35,000 each.
The scheme would feature about three mooring points along the waterway route, which could cost about 120,000 each to install, and the taxis could run every 10 minutes.
There could be links to Flag Fen, Marriott Hotel and Asda, and the taxis could carry 40,000 people a year with each trip costing about the price of a bus ticket.
Also needed would be car parking areas close to each mooring point.
The Environment Agency is leading on the Peterborough Waterspace Strategy to open up the waterways and will draw up a feasibility study into a river bus scheme.
They will carry out market research to work out demand, frequency, potential river bus stops, costs and revenue.
Cllr Cereste said the scheme would be cheap to run and eco-friendly, as the water taxis were powered by electric motors.
He said: “We wouldn’t have to do that much extra to make this work.
“At the moment we have park and ride. I’m saying use waterways and not build new roads.
“From an environment and a cost point of view, it’s cheaper than what we are doing today.”
Mr Clarke said: “There was a lot of scepticism about how the water taxis would work. But it is nice those people are coming back and saying how fantastic it is. They have taken it to their hearts.”
In Spalding, there are four taxis which run seven days a week.
Anglian waterways development manager for the EA Andy Wilkinson said: “Water taxis will bring a lot of benefits to the city.”
He said it would boost tourism and enhance the city’s fight to become the UK’s environment capital.
Regeneration officer for Opportunity Peterborough Julia Chatterton said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity and quite exciting.
“The Nene is our best kept secret and it’s time to shout about it.”
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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