MEMBERS have called on Thurrock Council to do all it can to restore the Tilbury to Gravesend ferry.

And a debate at full council has highlighted rifts in accountability and allegations and counter allegations about what money has been available in the past and might still be available.

Thurrock Nub News has had sight of correspondence from the council's CEO which categorically says claims made by senior Conservatives who ran the last administration are not true.

The ferry had to halt its service earlier this year after an agreement to extend the current contract could not be made. Now Thurrock Council and Kent County Council are said to be working together to find a long-term future for the service.

However, speaking at a full council meeting in the week, Cllr Roy Jones, Independent councillor for Stanford East and Corringham Town described how residents of all ages had enjoyed the ferry and were suffering from its loss.

After putting forward a motion urging a concerted effort to find long-term funding for the ferry by all concerned, he said: "Many members in this chamber and residents in the public gallery and in Thurrock have probably used the Thames river crossing from Tilbury to Gravesend at some point in their lives. We know it affectionately as the Tilbury Ferry.

"I have fond memories of paying many a visit to Gravesend with my family. My children used to enjoy the ferry crossing immensely. Many times I worked in Kent and Gravesend and have used this ferry. It was far simpler to use a five-minute trip to cross from one landing stage to another one than sit in traffic on the A13."

Ferries through the years

Cllr Jones who had cross-party support for the motion, added: "I have many friends and work colleagues that used that ferry every day for work purposes. The company I was recently working for I should imagine a quarter of their numbers came from Gravesend, tradespeople I have residents in my ward whose children go to school in Kent. They've been told they can go by coach but that's an horrendous journey every day before they start school.

"Do we really want to let this vital service go? I don't think so. I think we've got to fight to keep this going. This is needed by many, many people."

Council leader Cllr John Kent, seconded the motion and said he was "absolutely committed" to bringing back the service.

Cllr John Kent, right, addressed the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "The loss of the ferry has had a significant impact on many residents – people who relied on the ferry, not only for leisure, but for getting to and from work and to get to school."

"We have heard from many residents just how much the loss of the ferry means to them and we are committed to finding a commercially sound and sustainable long-term future for this historic river crossing.

"We recognise the important role that passenger transport on the river is likely to play and we want to do all we can to make sure that the Tilbury Ferry can be part of that future."

Cllr Kent spoke at the meeting following comment from two members of the former Conservative administration, who said they were sure that money had been ringfenced for the ferry, and they wondered what had happened to it.

Cllr Barry Johnson said: "I will be supporting the motion. However, I do need to point out I will be supporting the motion, however I do need to point out a few facts.

"When we left office in May there was £40,000 ringfenced for this ferry should an operator want a subsidy to run the service.

We are informed there is currently no council funding for this scheme, which I can see means only three options

"The cabinet members have reallocated funding without public scrutiny, an officer has reallocated funds without approval of the cabinet member or it is an attempt by this administration to rewrite history?

"We know Labour like to rewrite history because just last Sunday their new MP for Gravesham misleadingly wrote to the Secretary of State to say that the ferry isn't running because Thurrock and Kent County Council pulled the funding.

"The problem has never been about money, it's been about finding a company willing to run the service.

"The procurement goes out in Kent County Council's name and the big challenge they have always found is trying to find a company to run it.

"Why does no company want to run the service?

"What are local stakeholders, particularly Kent and Thurrock doing to make this an attractive proposition for companies?

"How can we make it more attractive? Maybe introducing a fare for those with bus passes, which will increase revenue. Many are willing to pay.

"Maybe it could even introduce trips down to Southend and beaches in the summer to make it a more fun way of going to the seaside for families.

Conservative councillors Barry Johnson, right) and Deborah arnold adressed the meeting. Cllr arnold refered to the past work of fomrer transport portfolio holder Cllr Ben Maney, left, who did not speak in the debate on the motion.

"The big issue for the companies is the Gravesham Labour council sold their pier off to Thames Clipper a few years ago and companies do not want to run a service from a pier owned by a competitor company.

"They were warned that selling this pier could make difficulties for the ferry and now Thurrock residents seem to be paying the price.

"Gravesham Council has not admitted to spending any of the money raised from the sale so why didn't that council put forward money to help the ferry?

"Has anyone asked them if they can spend it. They sold their pier, lost the ferry and now one of their cabinet members, who is actually their MP, is trying to mislead everyone into believing it's Thurrock's fault for pulling the plug.

"Maybe we could look into a CIC (community interest company) and get money from the Department of Transport (DfT) to ease the pressure on Thurrock and Kent. Maybe create a company whose sole purpose is to run and maintain the ferry and get DfT funding for it?

"This is an option. I hope Kent County Council and Thurrock and central government are open to this. 

"I hope this ferry really is restored and, of course, I will be supporting the motion but I have grave concerns that no company wants to run the service and I am concerned that Thurrock keeps getting the blame, when to the best of my knowledge, we still have funding available."

Cllr Johnson's call for government intervention echoed that of former Thurrock MP Dame Jackie Doyle-Price who called on ministers to engage in the process in January.

The service ended on 31 March.

Cllr Johnson's Conservative colleague, Cllr Deborah Arnold who was also a former cabinet member said she also recalled money being put aside for funding the ferry and she supported the case for charging bus pass holders, saying: "Why should the local authority be paying for something that isn't a bus pass.

"If it wasn't a subsidised fare we wouldn't have had to subsidise it by that £50,000, it could have been found within those fare.

"Cllr Ben Maney (the previous transport portfolio holder) worked really hard in conversations with Kent trying to find a way to continue to fund the ferry. I remember in cabinet being told there might be money via the Freeport system that could potentially be used.

"I thought we would be hearing some good news and it would be coming back."

During the debate, and in his address after seconding the motion, Cllr Kent told members there was currently no money on the table.

And he has given sight to Nub News of written confirmation from council CEO Dr Dave Smith which says: "There are no funds allocated against this at the moment.

"It had not been in the budget for a number of years - and had been soaked up in any number of ways on an 'ad hoc' basis."

Speaking at council, Cllr Kent said: "I fully welcome this motion and I am very pleased to second it.

"As Cllr Jones said there has been a ferry of sorts between Tilbury and Kent for hundreds and hundreds of years.

"We know that it was really well-used by residents for leisure and commuting. We know there are many local children who used it to go to schools in Kent.

"We have to be careful when we talk about what monies are available. I have asked the chief executive very closely what monies have been earmarked and he assures me there is no money set aside in any budget for this.

"That notwithstanding, we are absolutely committed to doing everything in our power to bring about the reintroduction of the Tilbury ferry.

Will the quay connection be restored?

"And in doing that I want to make sure that any new service is based on a sound business model, that is commercially watertight and will be sustainable for many years to come and if the best possible business model needs a public subsidy to make sure that it stacks up then I will work with other agencies and partners to try and make that happen.

"It will come as no surprise that I have regularly raised this with our chief executive and asked him to take forward discussions with partners in the public and private sector to examine every possibility of how we make this work in more detail.

"So I am sorry, I am not able to give a firm timetable as yet but as we get to the next stage it should become clearer as to just what is possible and I will keep members informed as to progress. 

The debate on the motion can be viewed via this link, item 18. https://thurrock.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/884568.

Cllr Jones' motion, which was unanimously supported, reads: "We call on Thurrock Council to work with both central government and Kent County Council to find a way to restore the vital historic Tilbury to Gravesend Thames River Crossing. We urge all parties to seek funding from community or other sources as to put in place a long-term plan for this infrastructure link between Essex and Kent."