The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company confirms damaged pontoon needs £250,000 investment for Hythe ferry to resume

HYTHE ferry will not resume services unless £250,000 is found for a new pontoon, the owners have confirmed.

The service, which connects Hythe and Southampton, stopped operating on 22nd August 2024 after engineers rendered the pontoon unsafe.

Director of The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company, Fran Collins, previously announced the necessary repairs would require “substantial” investment, but has now confirmed a new pontoon is needed.

In a statement she said: “Unfortunately, the boarding pontoon cannot be repaired and must be replaced. The new pontoon will cost around £250,000 and take six to eight weeks to construct and install.

“Despite operating at a loss for several years, we are committed to reinstating Hythe ferry. With the right support, we believe the business can become self-sustaining, preserving its heritage, and serving the Hythe and Southampton communities.”

She added: “We have reached out to local MPs and councils for funding and are exploring other financial options. Our commitment to this historic community link is unwavering, but we need a sustainable, long-term solution, including increasing passenger numbers.

“We are eager to collaborate with all partners and stakeholders to keep operating across the Solent. We are also pleased to be working closely with The Hythe Pier Company.”

As reported in the A&T, last year campaigner Ashleigh Mutimear-MacMillan took ownership of the pier from former ferry owner Lee Rayment of Blue Funnel, creating The Hythe Pier Company. She previously helped raise more than £40,000 to safeguard the future of the Hythe ferry.

Cllr Malcolm Wade, who represents Hythe and Dibden, said he hoped the money could be found. He told the A&T: “As an ardent supporter of the ferry, I will be writing to Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council and Southampton City Council, requesting some funding towards meeting this expenditure.

“The ferry is an important transport link between Southampton and Hythe, providing a non-car gateway to the New Forest and an element of the multi-modal transport strategies the councils support.”

A spokesperson for New Forest District Council said: “We have not been directly approached for support in relation to potential repairs for the Hythe ferry pontoon. The latest window for submitting bids for Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) closed on 13th December 2024 and we did not receive any bids in relation to the ferry. CIL is used for new and enhanced infrastructure rather than repairs.

“We would be open to exploring the potential for helping to address any funding shortfall required to support the reopening of this important ferry route, including any potential to improve the infrastructure supporting this facility.”

A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said it had no source of funding which could support the project to renew the pontoon or the ferry service.

It is not the first time the ferry has come under threat. In 2023 it was feared the service would be lost completely when then-operator Blue Funnel Cruises said it was running at an unsustainable loss.

It was poised to stop on 31st December until Isle of Wight ferry operator Red Funnel confirmed it would take over the route, later setting up the The Hythe and Southampton Ferry Company.