Ferry nice, thanks!

9:10am Monday 29th October 2001

THE historic Gravesend Tilbury ferry crossing will be run by a local company for the first time in 180 years.

Owner and captain of the pleasure boat Princess Pocahontas, John Potter, born and bred in Gravesend, has taken over the troubled passenger ferry.

He says public demand persuaded him to take over after the service, which dates back 600 years, threatened to go under because of a pay dispute.

Speaking to the News Shopper, Mr Potter said: “Everybody was asking if there was a ferry, so I decided to enquire whether I could rescue it.

“I'm hoping to be able to run the ferry on a permanent basis and will have to negotiate with the various authorities about it.”

Mr Potter, who has run the Pocahontas for more than 12 years, has retained five of the six ferrymen who walked out after a tribunal ruled former operator Lay Construction did not have to pay them money owed by White Horse Ferries.

He has been given a temporary licence by liquidators Begbies Traynor until a full-time owner can be found.

The 32 daily runs are a life line for hundreds of commuters and shoppers who cross the Thames and a Gravesham Council spokesman says it remains “a vital part of the transport infrastructure for the area”.

At a recent cabinet meeting, Gravesham councillors gave their support for money from the Dartford Crossing tolls to be ploughed back into services such as this.

Welcoming the news the ferry has been saved, Gravesham MP Chris Pond says he has held talks with Lord Falconer, the Government's housing, planning and regeneration secretary, to argue the case for re-investment.

Mr Pond said: “The Dartford Crossing is a potential source of future revenue and if the tolls continue, something should come back into the local community.”

l Do you think the ferry can survive or is it time to call it a day? Email

rsimcox@london.newsquest.co.uk

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