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Cramond Chain Ferry

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Started 14 years ago by cb
Latest reply from cb

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Cramond Ferry

cb
Member

Discovered this by accident when looking for something else. Cramond and Barton Community Council obtained funding to carry out a feasibility study for reopening the foot passenger ferry at Cramond.

See page 4 of the following 'Grapevine':

http://www.cramondkirk.org.uk/grapevineseptember2010.pdf

Cycling is mentioned:

"The study concludes that the ferry is a central component of potential for tourism development in the Cramond area and is a “missing link” in the Edinburgh footpath and cycleway network."

(I'm sure we could come up with other "missing links")

There is another mention of the feasibility study on p22.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

That's interesting.

There were strong reservations about the bridge idea.

http://cyclingedinburgh.info/2007/11/12/new-cramond-bridge-closer

The Estate feared there would no way of restricting 24 hour access which would increase vandalism.

£1.50 each way for that distance??

Better start campaigning for bikes to be free...

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

£1.50 each way? That is steep. It was 50p before the ferryman fished out the roman sculpture.

There is a similar ferry across the Thames at Shepperton - cycle down the North bank from Hampton Court/East Molsey and look for the bell to ring. Comes over for you - takes bikes - four the day I went over. Much further dstance over the Thames than the Almond. Think it was two quid return last summer. The pub at Shepperton - Kings Head or King Charles I is good - tho there was no ginger beer for the beer and ginger beer shandy so we had beer before heading to Staines which somehow always lives up to its name

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"
west_team (@west_team)

3/20/12 8:50 PM

Cramond and Barnton CC proposing new chain ferry at Cramond, with Almond NP support to analyse data and produce business plan.

"

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

£1.50 each way? That would put a damper on my commute variation plans. I think in the summer I might get a second pair of cycle shoes and looking at the tide table, wade across.

Posted 12 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

It will probably be a German chain ferry :P

Posted 12 years ago #
cb
Member

http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/top-stories/plans-unveiled-to-revive-crossing-from-cramond-1-2428641

"Cramond and Barnton Community Council has submitted plans from Covell Matthew Architects which will be  considered by city planners in September."

"Andrew Mather, chairman of the community council, said there had been significant support for the scheme from residents, Historic Scotland and the nearby boat club.

He said: “At the moment you see a lot of people arrive at the river and with no crossing tend to turn back. With such a detour we believe there will be interest, from people with bicycles in particular, who want to complete the full coastal route."

Posted 12 years ago #
Dave
Member

They shouldn't underestimate the value of this - if we could take in the prom and combine with the estate out to South Queensferry, all completely free of motoring speedophiles it might become a regular trip (including of course, the obligatory food / beverages from local franchises)...

Posted 12 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

Agreed. This would be astonishingly good as a leisure and commuting route.

Posted 12 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

Agree with Dave. Especially with the possibility of training back from Dalmeny/south Queensferry for tired small folk.

Posted 12 years ago #
spytfyre
Member

I wouldn't use it every day so £1.50 would be ok with me for the fun value of a good cycle route with the family

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

It would cut out about 2 miles of my commute, but I'm keen to see how much the daily cost would be. Hopefully there might be an upfront annual cost as at the mo my daily return on the bus is £4 so anything approaching a couple of quid each way wouldn't be worth my money.

Plans for a fixed bridge in 2008 were ruled out because it would prevent boats accessing the Almond.

Whats wrong with a lift bridge? I heavy weight would mean it coule be operated by hand, like the one in Dunbar used to be.

... the architect said: “We’ve come up with the concept of a chain ferry and lift platform which will believe will fulfil its purpose, will help businesses in Cramond, and will itself be of great interest as a structure.

Lift structure? What wrong with a floating ramp/pontoon? Over engineered equals too much cost.

Posted 12 years ago #
Bhachgen
Member

Great idea. You would think the £1.50 single trip would be fleshed out with family and season ticket options once they start to plan this out fully.

Posted 12 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

I would imagine if architects are the people involved that we're talking about a bridge which would then be free? How do you extract a toll on a foot/cycle bridge like that?

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

I thought the SNP were making Scotland Toll free?

Posted 12 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

@DaveC only if you're driving a car across a bridge

Posted 12 years ago #
PS
Member

Stratford-upon-Avon is believed to have the only other chain ferry – which are rafts attached to chains under the water – in the UK.

Well, I for one don't believe that. There's a chain ferry across Windermere for a start...

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Well, I for one don't believe that"

Quite

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbanks_Ferry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windermere_Ferry

I suspect they mean passenger only ones -

http://www.stratford-upon-avon.co.uk/soaboats.htm

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Feasibility Study for a Chain Ferry at Cramond -

http://www.glamisconsultancy.com/section380873_295376.html

Posted 12 years ago #
DaveC
Member

Dartford, home of the School for Royal Navy Officers also has a chain link ferry raft, also taking vehicles. Ah they say 'Scotlands only chain ferry'.

Posted 12 years ago #
Tulyar
Member

Pity its a short crossing & I suspect river flow may be too low - otherwise a self propelled ferry on a cable - as in Basel on the Rhein. It could be automated - pull second rope to reset the rudder and send boat across then reset rudder to cross back

Posted 12 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"

PLANS for the shortest ferry crossing in the UK across the River Almond have been recommended for approval by Edinburgh city planners.

The historic boat link which once connected Cramond with the Dalmeny Estate is set to make a return with work likely to begin next summer.

"

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/river-almond-ferry-crossing-gets-approval-1-3491155

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"

The city council report, which appears before the development and management sub-committee, states: “It has the potential to improve pedestrian and cycle accessibility along the city’s waterfront as part of the wider coastal path network.”

"

http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/river-almond-ferry-service-returns-to-cramond-1-3491648

Posted 10 years ago #
cb
Member

http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/cramond-ferry-connection-on-course-for-return-1-3491155

"PLANS for what is believed to be the shortest ferry trip in the UK taking passengers across the River Almond have been recommended for approval by city planners."

"A full-time boatsman will use a chain ferry to transport up to 12 people at a time across the stretch of water."

"[...] However, the group will still need to raise £300,000 to build the chain ferry device."

Posted 10 years ago #

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