A VITAL transport link has been awarded £45,000 in a bid to ensure it survives the coronavirus pandemic.

Three local authorities are clubbing together to help the Hythe to Southampton passenger ferry, which has seen a sharp fall in passenger numbers.

Hampshire County Council, Southampton City Council and New Forest District Council say they are determined to keep the service afloat.

They have each agreed to give Blue Funnel Ferries £15,000, resulting in a £45,000 windfall for the company.

Lee Rayment, Blue Funnel's director, described it as "survival money" that would help the service get through the winter, when the absence of tourists meant the ferry was likely to suffer "very hard times".

The district council recently revealed that the service had lost almost £50,000 during the pandemic.

A council spokesman said: "Hythe Ferry plays an important role in facilitating transport on the Waterside. The joint funding by the three authorities will give the ferry company short-term cashflow to ensure the service remains viable for a period while passenger numbers are lower than normal.

“At this stage no one is able to predict when numbers will return to a level that makes the service viable.”

As reported in the Daily Echo, sailings were suspended for three months after the lockdown resulted in business plummeting by 90%.

The service is normally used by commuters, people going shopping in Southampton city centre, and Saints fans attending matches at St Mary's Stadium.

Other regular passengers include Southampton residents who fancy a day out in the New Forest.

But people were left with little or no reason to use the ferry after strict social distancing measures were introduced to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

The service normally sees between 150 and 700 passengers a day, depending on whether Saints are playing at home, but numbers slumped to only a fraction of their usual level.

A Crowdfunding campaign launched to help the service survive the Covid-19 crisis proved so successful that Blue Funnel doubled its initial target of £5,000.

Cash continued to pour in and the fundraising goal was raised again - from £10,000 to £12,000. The third target was also beaten, with supporters donating almost £13,000.

Sailings resumed earlier this year.

Speaking at the time Mr Rayment said: "We have created a safe environment, with social distancing measures throughout. You'll need to wear a mask on the pier train and inside the cabins on the ferry.

"The company is still not in a great position and we are very hopeful of getting support from the local councils."

CONTACT ME

t: 023 8042 4503

e: chris.yandell@

dailyecho.co.uk