NINE weeks after Thurrock councillors agreed to set up a task and finish group to consider ways to bring back the Tilbury to Gravesed ferry, a report to full council in the coming week says its work has now started - and after a further ten weeks it will report its thoughts back, in March.

Councillors first issued a directive to officers at full council in July 2024, calling on the authority to work with central government, Kent County Council and other partners to find a way of restoring the "vital historic" Thames crossing and securing long term funding.

The idea of a group to work exclusively on options to bring back the ferry was then mooted at a Place overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, 2 October last year - and it was agreed to create it at a following meeting on Thursday, 27 November.

The terms of reference for the group were agreed at the November meeting, with a recommendation its first meeting would be held in early December. However, the start date was pushed back to January. The committee was also told the group would be established with the expectation to complete its task by Friday, 20 February 2026. However that deadline has also changed and its work is yet to start.

Members nominated to sit on the group are Cllrs Roy Jones, Jacqui Maney, Cici Manwa, Cathy Sisterson and Tom Kelly.

At full council on Wednesday (28 January) members will be told the task and finish group will have to evaluate a number of challenges, including the likely need for new vessels and uncertainties around future passenger numbers. The Thames Estuary Growth Board has been developing a revised commercial study based on a "do minimum" scenario, including the possible use of alternative propulsion technologies such as electric-powered boats.

Councillors have previously been told that any future ferry would need to operate on a largely commercial basis, with limited public subsidy. Interim director Paul Crick told members last year there was strong public demand but no available public funding to run the service.