Hovercraft / ferry service from Fife to Portobello?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:49

Hey, I only disagree with you when you're wrong.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:52

Bob Jefferson wrote:Hey, I only disagree with you when you're wrong.

Or I'm right and you're wrong but you won't admit it.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:54

Epykat wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:Hey, I only disagree with you when you're wrong.
Or I'm right and you're wrong but you won't admit it.

Are we married by any chance?

Post by **wangi** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:55

Epykat wrote:It was bad enough in the two weeks it was here. My daughter walks to work in the D&C Home via the Prom and for the whole time the hovercraft was here they shut off both the Promenade and the Beach from the point of boarding forcing her (and other pedestrians/dog walkers) to walk along the top road.

I had the completely opposite experience myself... cycling along the prom (don't worry it's expressly allowed on that down beaten stretch) they opened up the fencing to let me through... Didn't even have to stop. That must have happened 4 or 5 times, some of the times they were boarding too and they stopped the people to let me past.

If there was a permenant launch site there then I don't think such an arrangement would continue - there'd need to be some sort of waiting area adjacent to where the hovercraft comes in (isn't that what the "action group" are all against?).

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:57

Bob Jefferson wrote:
Epykat wrote:
Bob Jefferson wrote:Hey, I only disagree with you when you're wrong.
Or I'm right and you're wrong but you won't admit it.
Are we married by any chance?

Only in your dreams dear

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 05 Aug 2007, 21:59

wangi wrote:they opened up the fencing to let me through... Didn't even have to stop. That must have happened 4 or 5 times, some of the times they were boarding too and they stopped the people to let me past.

They must have liked the look of you then because she was turned back even after explaining where she worked

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Aug 2007, 22:00

Epykat wrote:Only in your nightmares dear!

Post by **wangi** » 05 Aug 2007, 22:02

This was all during the second week of the trial... Never cycled past during the first week (was far too busy driving big SUVs on shockingly big highways). So maybe they changed their approach half way through?

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 05 Aug 2007, 22:13

Bob Jefferson wrote:
Epykat wrote:Only in your nightmares dear!

My nightmares yes

.

(Isn't changing quotes against a rule? You'll be starting another strike if you're not careful

)

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 06 Aug 2007, 21:35

wangi wrote:... cycling along the prom (don't worry it's expressly allowed on that down beaten stretch)......

Wangi, cycling is allowed on all parts of the Prom:

"At a recent community council meeting Inspector Ward said that, as far as he was aware , the restriction on cyclists using the prom had no legal status and was un-enforceable"

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 06 Aug 2007, 22:03

Bob Jefferson wrote: Are we married by any chance?

Ha!

I knew it!!!! Now it all makes sense...
All this time I've been waiting for a confession!

(Damn, OT again, and in the serious place...better go give myself a talking to

...)

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 10 Aug 2007, 12:39

From Maureen Child:

I missed the hovercraft trial, having been away on holiday, but have had a number of e mails and conversations about it, which I can feed back. I have had an e mial form the lead officer in the Council about it, Iain Henderson. He’s alerting us to the means of feeding back comments. How was it for you – whether you went across to Fife and back or you suffered the impact of noise, inconvenience of being blocked form getting along the Promenade, or whatever.

Napier University's Transport Research Institute are carrying out a post evaluation survey on-line. If any of you want to make comments directly, then please access www.forth-hovercraft.s-and-w.org and complete the on-line survey;

or you can write directly to Stagecoach Scotland, Guthrie House, Glenfield Industrial Estate, Cowdenbeath, Fife, KY4 9HT;
you can contact Iain Henderson directly – Iain Henderson, Senior Professional Officer, Transport Planning Floor 10, City Chambers, High Street, Tel. 0131 469 3608 or fax. 0131 469 3635 or e mail iain.henderson@edinburgh.gov.uk

I’d be interested to hear form you too – having missed it completely!

Please do pass this message on to anyone else you know, who has a view on how the hovercraft trial went.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Oct 2007, 17:00

From today's EN:

Forth hovercraft trial 'proved the case' for service

See also:

Full Stagecoach press release

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Nov 2007, 23:34

From tomorrow's Sunday Herald:

SNP donor in £3.3m hovercraft subsidy plea

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Nov 2007, 16:38

From the Guardian:

It would be much less bovver with a hover

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 04 Feb 2008, 14:27

Stagecoach have organised a public meeting to be held in Portobello Community Centre on 18 February 2008 at 8.00 p.m. They will give a report on the results of last Summer's trial and an update on the current business case.

Please note that there will be a bird monitoring exercise carried out in the period 21st-28th February on the Forth. A hovercraft will be operational in the area at this time, but will not carry passengers

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 06 Feb 2008, 00:16

Now available on Portobelly Telly:

forthfast - A New Public Transport Initiative

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 19 Feb 2008, 22:00

From Fife Today:

Stagecoach grounds hovercraft project

From BBC News:

Row over Forth hovercraft freeze

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Nov 2008, 12:18

From today's Scotsman:

Souter says £1m aid would launch Forth hovercraft

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 07 Nov 2008, 13:38

Was that still going to run from Portobello?

I thought they had adjusted the plan so the hovercraft ran straight to the Scottish exec headquarters?

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 07 Nov 2008, 18:31

Grunk wrote: straight to the Scottish exec headquarters?

A trifle unlikely as it would have to get through the lock into Leith Docks!

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 07 Nov 2008, 20:58

They did want to run into Leith docks but there were access problems. I'm struggling to remember but they gave a presentation to the CC about it.

Post by **wangi** » 19 Nov 2009, 22:45

Steve Walker, Operations Director, Stagecoach East Scotland wrote:19 November 2009

Dear stakeholder

UPDATE ON PROPOSED CROSS-FORTH HOVERCRAFT SERVICE

I am writing to provide you with an update on Stagecoach’s plans to establish a permanent cross-Forth hovercraft service. I would also like to invite you to attend one of the community meetings we are hosting shortly to outline the latest developments.

Over the past few months, we have made made further progress with our plans. We now have in place a joint venture agreement with Bland Group and a combined £14million funding package as we move forward with our plans.

Bland Group is a 200-year-old family-owned business who own Griffon Hoverwork Ltd, the world’s leading hovercraft manufacturer and Hovertravel, the highly successful hovercraft service that links Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. Their hovercraft have been sold to 39 countries across six continents and their fast, frequent Portsmouth-Isle of Wight service carries more than 800,000 customers annually.

Under the heads of terms agreement, Stagecoach and Bland Group would manufacture and operate the two hi-tech hovercraft required for a permanent service between Kirkcaldy and Portobello. Stagecoach and Bland Group will each inject £7million into the project.

We also expect to submit detailed planning applications to both Fife Council and City of Edinburgh Council before the end of the year as part of our plans.

Two consultation meetings will be held later this month with communities on both sides of the Forth in advance of the submission of the planning applications. The details of the meetings are:

• [Philp Hall, Kirkcaldy, on 15 December 2009 at 7.30pm]
• [Town Hall, Portobello, on 16 December 2009 at 7.30pm]

The meetings will include a presentation on recent developments and the details of our plans. Stagecoach representatives will also be available to answer your questions.

As you know, Stagecoach carried out a highly successful trial service in the summer of 2007. More than 32,000 passengers used the Forthfast service, including both commuters and leisure travellers. Retailers on both sides of the Forth also reported increased footfall and sales during the trial, which was part-funded by the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran).

Stagecoach is now seeking to operate a permanent service using two purpose-built state-of-the-art hovercraft on the route, with crossings every 25 minutes at peak times and an hourly off-peak service. The 150-passenger craft, which would be fully accessible for passengers with disabilities, would also be equipped with the latest propeller technology to ensure low operational noise levels. Stagecoach has already carried out detailed environmental impact assessments for the project, including bird studies on behalf of Scottish Natural Heritage and a noise impact study on both sides of the Forth.

The planning applications will set out plans to use Stagecoach’s former bus depot at Invertiel in Kirkcaldy and land adjacent to the Lothian Buses depot at Seafield Road in Portobello for departures and arrivals. Planning documents will also include details of landing ramps, passenger terminals, maintenance facilities and car parking for a permanent service.

The hovercraft would offer a fast journey time of less than 20 minutes. It would also be integrated with bus services on both sides of the Forth, including shuttle bus links from Portobello to Ocean Terminal in Leith and Waverley Bridge in the heart of Edinburgh. We estimate around 870,000 passengers a year would use a permanenent hovercraft link after it is fully established.

We believe it is important to maintain the momentum behind the project and we are delighted to have a joint venture partner and significant private sector funding now in place. Securing planning permission is also a critical element of the project. We will be looking to progress this while continuing our discussions with the local authorities and the South East of Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) on public sector support, which is also key to the future of the project.

Stagecoach remains 100% committed to the hovercraft link. We have had huge support for the project on both sides of the Forth and we look forward to outlining our plans to the local communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. If you have any further questions in advance of the community meetings, please do not hesitate to contact me on 01592 645660. Thank you for your continuing support as we look to make this innovative public transport service a reality for local people.

Yours sincerely

Steve Walker
Operations Director
Stagecoach East Scotland

PDF: hovercraft update stakeholder letter nov 2009.pdf

L/

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 20 Nov 2009, 13:23

I think the Hovercraft will be great for Portobello.
Not only will it bring people to the area, increasing revenues for small businesses, but it will create a case for the tram link to be extended to cover Portobello (cheaply and without disruption along the unused rail line from Leith).

Although I'm sure some residents will find something to complain about.

admin: the fun posts split to thread on G&TT.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 15 Dec 2009, 18:43

Bump!

Reminder for any interested parties that the Hovercraft meeting in the Town Hall is tomorrow, the 16th December.

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 17 Dec 2009, 14:20

What is the general consensus about the hovercraft?

For or against?

Post by **wangi** » 17 Dec 2009, 15:03

I went along. Must say I was surprised by the (vocal) majority (?) being against the scheme. Genuinely hope this isn't the start of PAH and another stride towards Portobello Against Absolutely Everything.

Proposed location is not where it was during the trial; will be further west along the Prom, at the back of the other Lothian Buses garage (the tour one).

Hovercraft will be 5dB quieter than one used in trial.

Main concern was noise - Stagecoach should have been much better prepared for this, it's hardly a surprise! Simply saying -5dB is pointless and it's a scale people do not easily grasp. They should have been prepared with a robust explanation and good comparisons that people would immediately relate to (rather than poor ones which just added to the confusion).

Concerns also mentioned were access (dog walkers etc; blocking Prom - it wont); beach damage; wildlife; parking; and what are the benefits for Portobello.

I think it's potentially a great opportunity, one that could raise the profile of Portobello and make it a hub in a transport network.

L/

Grunk · Post by **Grunk** » 17 Dec 2009, 15:51

Sometimes the vocal majority is actually the minority, I've noticed this before at Portobello based meetings, some people love the sound of their own voice too much.

Anyhow for perceived loudness, -5dB is about half as loud, which is a pretty good reduction I would say.

I can't help but feel that folk who are against this are victims of the shortsightedness of an insular community, but that's my opinion.

Maybe I should start a campaign group in favour of the hovercraft.

Bazza · Post by **Bazza** » 18 Dec 2009, 13:39

I couldn't make it, which is a shame. I'm all in favour! Being to hop on a hovecraft over to Kirkcaldy would be great!

And aye, I use the Prom to commute, but it was certainly no major hassle during the trial.

seanie · Post by **seanie** » 06 Jan 2010, 10:15

The planning application has been submitted;09/03359/FUL

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 19 Jan 2010, 13:31

http://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/ ... /03359/FUL

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 19 Jan 2010, 13:35

Just included the link in my last post and didn't write Anything to go with it. Should have said: I'm pro hovercraft. It's quite far along the prom from the Kings Road flats and parking and waiting rooms appear to be thoughtfully placed.

GRANTY · Post by **GRANTY** » 20 Jan 2010, 00:26

I'd just like to add my voice to the PRO Hovercraft bunch! I coped fine with the trial period and had a trip to Fife in it. I also live on the Prom, so am well used to noise at all times of day and night.....particularly the random, rogue fireworks which go off every few months in the small hours, all year round

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 20 Jan 2010, 10:25

Yo, I'm Pro.

allaboardtheskylark · Post by **allaboardtheskylark** » 20 Jan 2010, 22:11

all aboard me hearties

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

Hovercraft / ferry service from Fife to Portobello?

A good page of docs

I'm for it.

hovercraft