Following essential safety repairs, the West Lynn Ferry will officially resume operations from 7am on Monday 11 August, reconnecting communities across the River Great Ouse.
The ferry service was suspended earlier this year due to safety concerns. Thanks to joint funding of nearly £100,000 from Norfolk County Council and the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, vital repair work is now nearing completion.
Improvements include:
• Reinstated handrails and safety barriers on both ferry landings
• Structural repairs to steps and surfaces
• Additional maintenance carried out by the ferry operator
Cllr Michael de Whalley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity at the Borough Council, welcomed the news: “Contractors have completed the landing steps at West Lynn, and with only a few remaining on the King’s Lynn side, Ben the skipper is ready to welcome passengers back. I am delighted that the ferry can resume its passenger service from 7am on Monday 11 August.
“The landings look fantastic, and the operator is eager to set sail again. I’d like to thank the passengers for their patience, the operator for their dedication, and all our partners—including Norfolk County Council, the harbour master and supporting agencies—for helping restore this vital service. We continue to work collectively to relaunch the ferry and ensure that users are aware of the resumption of its service.”
He added: “Please show your continued support for the ferry and make good use of it. If you live in West Lynn, Clenchwarton, Terrington or nearby, this is a golden opportunity to leave the traffic behind and embrace the historic ferry that’s served our community since 1285.”
Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport at Norfolk County Council, said: “A lot of people rely on the ferry to travel from West Lynn and the town and I’m delighted to see it being brought back into service.”
“An awful lot of work has gone into repairing and replacing the steps, which has been a real joint effort, with the county and borough council sharing the costs.”
Ben Ellis, Skipper and co-owner of the ferry, expressed his excitement: “The ferry’s coming back stronger than ever—I can’t wait to get going. To all those who said they’d use it, I hope to see you soon.”
