I’m very sorry to announce that, after almost 1000 years of uninterrupted operation, the Teignmouth to Shaldon Ferry is no longer in service.
Why has this happened? Watch this space!
All interested parties please comment.
I’m very sorry to announce that, after almost 1000 years of uninterrupted operation, the Teignmouth to Shaldon Ferry is no longer in service.
Why has this happened? Watch this space!
All interested parties please comment.
This is appalling! I use the ferry regularly. What’s going on?
The people responsible for this scandalous decision by Teignbridge DC need holding to account. There was no public consultation, not even an announcement in local press or media.
The ferry provides a service for locals and grockles and is a key part of Teignmouth and Shaldon’s character and heritage. It should be treasured and if Teignbridge Council is incapable of managing it properly, they should be removed and let competent people take over.
Jon Hollely
this is tragic, what’s happened? i hope it’s only temporary. I really miss my daily trip and friendly chat with our local cheery ferrymen Chris, james etc.
I mentioned in a letter to the local newspaper in the summer that the idea of stopping the ferry was “ludicrous”. Now the only word that comes to mind is “sad”. Actually, that is not quite true, I can think of a lot of words and I wholeheartely agree with Jon Hollely’s comment. My heart goes out to Chris and James, for whom the ferry was not just a job but a way of life. I am sure they will miss talking to the locals as much as the locals have enjoyed chatting with them over the years.
This is truly a sad state of affairs. Something as traditional and undividual as this should not be allowed to simply stop. it’s things like this that make Teignmouth special and sets it aside from it’s more commercial neighbours. This is why people visit our town and love it and come back. PLEASE DONT WIPE OUT OUR INDIVIDUALITY. In the process making crossing Shaldon bridge more of a nightmare than it already is. SEE SENSE!!!!
What a tragedy! After holidaying in Shaldon and Teignmouth for over 30 years it is a real shame to hear that the ferry has stopped running. Those involved at the council should hang their heads in shame. The ferry is a unique attraction to the area for us and many others. I fondly remember ferry trips as a child and in recent years I have taken my own children across on the ferry. I believe it’s closure to be a huge loss to the area not only for the local people but for us holidaymakers too. I echo the comments of all the above posts and hope this situation will soon be sorted and service resumed!
How dare (quoting Robin Day) transient,here today gone tomorrow ‘politicians’ like the leader and executive of Teignbridge District Council cause our Ferry service to cease running after centuries.
Their ineptitude and ,frankly careless approach to the way they have dealt with Mr Trout is shameful.
As a lifelong resident of Teignmouth I have used the unique ferry service over a long period of time and value it and it’s tradition.
What right have these people,who obviously could’nt care less about Teignmouth and Shaldon, to disrupt the ferry which has been run in an efficient and friendly manner under Mr Trout’s stewardship?
I’m furious that three people have lost their jobs over this and we’ve lost our local and much loved ferry service. Well done Mr Trout for keeping the ferry going until the end of October. I can’t believe that Teignbridge Council dared to ‘rock the boat’ by trying to sell it off. At the end of the day it hasn’t cost us, the Teignbridge tax payer, anything in the last 10 years.
I have great admiration for the ferrymen who have been out there in all but the stormiest weather providing an excellent, reliable and safe service for locals and visitors alike. For them it’s not just been a ferry service, it’s been a way of life and I’m greatly saddened that they’re now out of work in the midst of the current recession. If it’s not costing us the tax payer anything why on earth couldn’t the council have done the decent thing and let the remaining 9 years of the lease run? After all council’s are meant to represent the interests of residents and there’s very strong feeling in the town and far beyond over this. I also can’t believe that we now have no option but to walk or drive along the already traffic clogged Bitton Park Road to get to Shaldon rather than the pleasant short hop over the ferry.
I hope that all this is resolved very shortly as everyone’s losing out, even the council who won’t now be getting their twice annual cheque from the ferry operator.
How can Teignbridge Council claim that the Mr. Trout terminated his contract of his own volition when it was clearly a result of of the council’s decision to sell the whole operation? A point the leader of the council has managed to avoid in both the press and radio interviews he’s recently given. Such uncertainty is bound to make planning, both operational and financial, almost impossible. It must be a very difficult balancing act for the operator to keep the ferry operating satisfactorily without bringing himself to financial ruin. Teignbridge, one would think, would be supporting him and his colleagues, rather than pulling the rug from beneath their very feet.
The Teignmouth-Shaldon ferry is a essential feature of the harbour and should been seen as an asset to be proud of. Not something to be flogged off when cash gets a bit tight.
Finally, when will the council willingly and publically admit to the £1200 per month (Report to the executive 13.07.09 – TDC Website) it receives from Mr.Trout in return for the operating lease?
Stop all this talk of selling, just let Mr.Trout get on with the job he’s been doing so well over recent years.
I’m not surprised the council has messed this up, they had to give the harbour toilets away because they couldn’t manage to look after them .
Time for Teignbridge District Council to get their act together (what a shambles), a great loss to locals and visitors alike.
We want our ferry back in service NOW !!!!!!!!!
I find this quite unbeleavable, when I saw the headline on a bill board I thought they must be talking about some other ferry. I just hope the council come to there senses and get it running again with out delay.
We live in a time when decision-making is vested in people far away whose motives for wanting such powers are highly suspect. Shame on you indeed Teignbridge counsellors. In earlier times local people might have taken matters into their own hands and relaunched what is useful and admired regardless of the king’s wrath. Let us hope the swell of local opposition to this short-sighted and incomprehensible decision gets it reversed in double-quick time.
I am truly sorry this has happened.
I am disgusted with Teignbridge Council especially the ‘MP in waiting’ Leader ( watch your back Mr Younger-Ross.) What will Teignbridge Council do when they have sold off all of our jewels. LEAVE US ALONE, GET OUR FERRY BACK – shame on you all
Oh, Mr Younger-Ross I expect you will be reading this web-site – what is your view?? strangely quiet publicly on this front.
James, if there is anything we can do large or small we will help. You know where we are. Thank you for a wonderful service you provided and I hope ‘your hat’ will be caught (interview on bbc Radio Devon)
I just can’t believe that that anyone would pull the plug on something so embedded in the local character and community of Shaldon. This service is something that could probably get lottery funding due to the long term heritage of the Ferry.
Obviously someone has to run this service and make the necessary investement to keep the boats seaworthy and the Council is not willing to take on any of these costs (regardless of us paying one of the highest council taxes in the country). The details can be seen here:-
http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=22295&p=0
Let’s hope this gets sorted and a suitable operator can be found.
And lets not forget to thank James and Chris who have kept it going up until now.
This looks like a case of knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing. It can been seen in other places to their detriment and contrasts the success of places that realise that continuity matters… particularly in repeat business.
I hope any replacement maintains the vintage appearance of the craft and it is not reduced to some soulless modern utility vessel.
Please, please don’t do this – the Teignmouth – Shaldon ferry works at different levels for lots of people. For holiday makers it ’s something unusual and fun, and a helps make Teignmouth special in their memories – presumably good for tourism? For local people it’s a quick way over the water, and for non drivers like me makes getting to Shaldon and the countryside west of the Teign more pleasant and easier than waiting for a bus or walking the long way round over the bridge.
What about the Heritage aspect too?- Devon is rightly proud of its traditions and history, but everytime something like this happens a bit more real history and heritage is consigned to the bin so for short term gains the politicians dump a bit more of our history with no consultation. How about some joined up thinking here?
If there is any sense or democracy left, listen to the residents of and visitors to Devon and safeguard the Teignmouth / Shaldon Ferry – this is about more than an annual balance sheet.
I cannot begin to understand why this decision has been made?. There is little enough parking in both Teignmouth and Shaldon and now residents and holiday makers will be forced to drive accross Shaldon bridge to join the groaning queues of traffic on either side. There is no sense in this decision and is a very sad day for us all.
I think Teignbridge District Council and more specifically the crack asset stripping team that is Nicola Bullbeck & Alan Connett should be ashamed of their recent conduct. Firstly they ‘offered early retirement’ to a large swathe of the managers at TDC – the people who would question their decisions. They then decide to asset strip the district as a short term fix to swell the Council’s coffers. This subsequently failed as the majority of the assets (notably the Bitton Park Orangery) were allegedly sold off at £1 each to local interest groups. Not wishing to end their run of poor decisions they then decide to tie the ferry up! The service has run for 1000 years surviving Hitler’s bombs, a French invasion and countless storms but the combined destructive power of Bullbeck & Connett have put pay to this essential local service. Rumour has it that the next stage in their plan is to ‘offer early retirement’ to all the Service Leads in Forde House in April. The Dictatorship continues……………
Our council members should be encouraging the continuance of this long-standing service used by locals and holidaymakers. You were not elected to remove services and tradition. We should be proud of our traditions. The Council gives much attention to ‘green’ issues and yet would appear to be actively discouraging the use of public transport since the alternative for many people will be a drive across the bridge, causing pollution and adding to the summer traffic jams.
I cannot believe (but possibly shouldn’t be surprised), that a council, who are elected to look after the best interests of the community, can see any benefits of effectively stopping the ferry from operating. The ferry has been part of the landscape of Teignmouth and Shaldon for hundreds of years, providing tourist visitors to Shaldon, who otherwise wouldn’t visit, and spend valuable money in the pubs and shops there.
I am so glad I got the chance to travel on the ferry during the summer, as if the council carry on like this, I won’t get the chance again, and that is just so wrong.
Why, can’t they look at the big picture, at what the ferry provides for the community? In these times of financial hardship, they should be doing EVERYTHING they can to support the businesses in the area, to encourage tourism, and by shutting down such an historical fixture, they are doing just the opposite. I think you all can probably tell, I’m furious.
What a shame to loose our way to the Pubs in Shaldon! A poor decision needs to be revoced and the ferry re instated.
A few comments from the Ferryman….
More than 2 years have gone by since the Council came up with the ‘bright’ idea of selling the Ferry. This year became more and more stressful, knowing that something like this would happen, but not quite believing it. Saturday Oct 31 was a very very sad day indeed… and here’s something that you don’t hear the Council officials talking about…. Chris and I have both lost our jobs through this, Chris has to ’sign on’, I’m self employed, and have some work, but after mid December there is a strong possibility of no income at all. (Not forgetting James either).
Please don’t believe some of the Council’s statements to the press & radio, the ferry is NOT out of the water, it is moored in its usual place, still with a current passenger certificate, we want to run it over the Christmas period, not only might we earn some wages, but there will be a boost for local businesses and pubs, especially Boxing Day. But the Council say it can’t be done, well, it can.
So, if you have any business interest, or just want to see the ferry running, even if only for a short period , please support this idea…
It is a sad day when a man as honourable as James Trout has to take the route he has because of the disingenious , deceitful and in some case downright liars that inhabit the bowels of T.D.C. The self serving folk that precipitated Mr Trouts decision are unfortunately just another example of the mallaise that has affected this country in recent years. Make no mistake Councillors , most residents realise that you consider yourselves secure in your ivory towers , however , that is an illusion of your own making ! Enough is enough , Teignmouth is in danger of becoming an ex resort due to the monkeys tea party that is T.D.C. You have two options .
Shape up or Ship out.
I hope Teignbridge had the courtesy of advising Tom Franklin the chief executive of the Ramblers association and walkers that they have effectively removed a link out of the Coastal footpath and Templar Way.
We have the government legislation to give a future coastal path and putting forward some 50 million pounds. On the othe hand we have Teignbridge giving up a long term income for a speculative short term gain, without first giving thought to the consequences, the result of which is to take a link out of the coastal path and Templar way.
We travel by train from London to holiday in Shaldon every year – Devon roads are too clogged up to bring a car. Like many holiday makers, we use the ferry almost daily during our stay and its friendly service is a big part of why we love the area so much. So sorry, Teignbridge council, we will not be booking for 2010 unless the ferry is restored. Add in others who, like us, will take their holidays and money elswhere and it’s clear your ’savings’ are actually a financial drain on the very people you were elected to serve.
The Councils decision to offer an annual contract to run the ferry, which when offered did not secure an operator, only came about because Mr Trout gave notice part the way through his 20 year contract. This I believe was in part brought about by the lack of response from the Council and their indecisiveness.
The Council at their Executive meeting of the 3rd November thanked Mr Trout for the highly efficient service that he ran, and highlighted the level of support he had from the wider community. As the Council hold Mr Trout in high regard then why not negotiate with him in a sensible and business like manner and allow him to continue with at least the remainder of his contract on terms that are acceptable to both sides.
Further to the question put by Mr Baldey at the Executive meeting the Council is bound by the Local Government Act 1972 to obtain best consideration for the disposal of any asset. The consideration may be assessed therefore not only on price but overall on what may be in the best interests of the Council taking all relevant issues into account. Also that the method of disposal shall be by public auction or tender unless another method is recommended and approved by the Policy Holder before, this being Councillor Connett.
Therefore it is within the powers of the Council and Councillor Connett to negotiate with Mr Trout exclusively taking all relevant issues into account.
So come on Teignbridge do not let this much needed ferry die and use some common sense and talk with Mr Trout on the terms he is suggesting.
It Can’t Happen Here, Can It?
We all watched the television in horror as the rain swollen rivers of Cumbria inflicted their damage on Cockermouth. Pity the poor souls who lost possessions, homes and pets we thought. Then there was word that brave Police Constable Bill Barker had perished while securing the bridge at Workington; human tragedy and the relentless force of nature. No, it doesn’t make the rationalization any easier; there will always be catastrophic weather somewhere in the world. But are we really thinking about the implications for Teignmouth and Shaldon?
You may, or may not, accept the explanation that those rains were a once in a millennium event. There is no guarantee that a similar event would not produce similar results on the Teign. What if the Shaldon-Teignmouth bridge were undermined by a flood-swollen river? What alternative means is there for crossing the river? A ferry perhaps?
yet some thing else that is disapearing in shaldon, 1st shops now the ferry what next??? why not close the pubs & cafes???
What a short sighted decision, on so many levels to stop the Teignmouth – Shaldon ferry. Why has no one set up an online pressure group where people can vent there frustration and sign a petition, so the council can see how much damage they are doing to the community, and public image of this beautiful area.
There is a petition at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/SaveourFerry/ – please get as many people as you can to sign it and keep the ferry in public ownership so that its assets cannot be sold off.
Its a crying shame,someones head should roll for this outrage.
Teignbridge District Council you should be ashamed of yourselves pen-pushing box ticking no good jobsworths….