Partner: Brightlingsea Harbour

Ferry Service

Brightlingsea Harbour has run a foot and cycle ferry service for a number of years and it has established itself as a valuable community facility. Originally it ran only between Brightlingsea and Point Clear, but during its second year of operation its service was extended to include East Mersea Stone. The ferry has to some extent been the victim of its own success in that at it’s busiest in the height of summer and on good weather weekends large queues form and the crews find it difficult to cope with the numbers and the passengers can get agitated.

The development of a ferry service to Colchester when tides permit has been mooted in the Harbour for some years as a way of linking the river communities and would fit in well with the provision of pontoons and the regeneration of the Hythe at Colchester being undertaken by another Transcoast partner.

We propose to purchase a new ferry boat which can enhance the current service at busy times and provide a new service to Wivenhoe, Rowhedge and Colchester when tidal conditions permit in the summer and provide a bird watching service during the winter months.

Hydrological Study

The changing environmental and climatic conditions over the next 50 years pose a possible threat to the viability of the Harbour. Having recently dredged certain areas of the Harbour, a study is required to investigate how BHC might best manage this change and minimise the threat to the viability of the Harbour and will inform the strategic plan for the Harbour.

Schools Sailing

BHC has been providing 11 days of school sailing activities for all local primary schools on the north side of the river for a number of years, 9 days in June/July and a further 2 in October at the request of one of the local schools to enable it to fit in with their ‘water’ topic in their curriculum. The project makes it possible for us to offer these activities to five local school until summer 2012. Activities are offered to 240 children, usually in year 5 (aged 9/10) and a further 30 pupils from the local senior school as part of their activities week.

Activities provided include sailing aboard a large traditional sailing vessel, sailing 22’ day boats and trawling and man overboard exercises using a small motor boat. The activities are often described by the schools as their favourite visit of the school year.

Recycling and Waste Facilities

We have plans to improve the recycling facilities within the Harbour and to replace/improve the waste oil facility in the Boat Park and to relocate the sewage pump out station to the site of the new fuel barge and to provide information and advice on where the recycling facilities are and the use of them.. We also plan to improve night time visibility on the pontoons as well as provide additional safety ladders and an emergency boat ladder usage scheme.