A ferry service across the Menai Strait between Caernarfon and Anglesey  should be restored to boost the tourist economy, says the High Sheriff of Gwynedd.

Former North Wales Tory AM Peter Rogers, believes reinstating a service between Caernarfon and Brynsiencyn would be a draw for tourists.

He said: "We ought to be looking at economic development in the current climate and this is an opportunity to provide a boost to Anglesey and Gwynedd."

Making his plea, Mr Rogers recalled how popular the crossing was in Brynsiencyn before it stopped around 40 years ago.

"I came to farm here about 35 years ago and was surprised to find many businesses all did their banking in Caernarfon rather than Llangefni. I thought initially it was something to do with the service, but I found out it had nothing to do with it. It had just been easier to pop across to Caernarfon on the ferry than drive all the way around to Llangefni."

He also believed a new service would be popular with tourists.Mr Rogers added: "On this side of the water we have two big tourist attractions in Foel Farm and the Sea Zoo, and of course the Anglesey coastal path.

"On the other side, Caernarfon has a number of attractions, not least the castle and the cobbled streets."

Mr Rogers said there would be obstacles such as where to site the jetty and who would run the service, but the idea was worth considering.

Logistical difficulties and any ferry operator would have to take into account tide times but it might be a service that existing operators might consider introducing, he added.

Plans have been announced to restore the link in the past few years, but none have come to fruition. The most ambitious ferry service proposal so far was put forward by the Countryside Counil for Wales for a waterbus service from Caenarfon via Tal y Foel, Felinheli, Moel y Don and Plas Newydd and a  similar service from Bangor to the Gazelle, Porthaethwy and Beaumaris.

A feasibility study undertaken by the University of Wales estimated the round trip would take two hours and suggested a 60-seater boat with provision for cycles. But they found a specially designed craft sufficiently sturdy to negotiate the tricky Swillies would cost up to £200,000 and the scheme never went ahead.

The navigating the Swillies would also have meant employing a full-time pilot and building ferry terminals.

[DAILY POST]

In his last official engagement as Northern Ireland First Minister, Rt Hon Dr Ian Paisley MP MLA was joined by Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MP MLA and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond MP MSP in officially opening the new £37m Stena Line ferry terminal at the Port of Belfast.

The three ministers were among 250 invited guests attending the launch of the three-storey, 35,000 sq ft facility which has been built by Belfast Harbour Commissioners on reclaimed land on Westbank Road at the edge of the Port.

Speaking at the event, Len O’Hagan, the Port of Belfast Chairman commended the long term vision and investment that allowed the new port to come to fruition:

"In an age where the prevailing philosophy seems not to believe in long-term rewards from long-term investments, I must commend previous Harbour Commissioners and previous management teams who have sought to plan Port developments around the needs of the local economy with a view which extended decades into the future," he said.

"In addition to the terminal itself, I am also pleased to confirm that work on a new four lane road linking the terminal directly to the motorway network will begin at the end of this year with a view to completing it in time for the start of the 2009 summer season.

"Our vision is to create a gateway which reflects Northern Ireland’s new found optimism – optimism which is soaring high upon the potential which a return to stable devolution has unleashed," he added.

Stena Line’s global CEO, Gunnar Blomdahl stressed the importance of the new port to Stena Line’s Irish Sea operations and confirmed that the leading ferry company will continue to invest in the route between Belfast and Scotland with its intention to relocate its current port in Stranraer to a proposed new purpose-built facility at Old House Point.

Gunnar Blomdahl said:

"The Irish Sea is a key part of Stena Line’s international business and also one of its strongest growing markets and as such is an area in which Stena Line is keen to invest. Together with the planned new facility at Old House Point on the Scottish coast, this new terminal provides a striking, modern facility that reflects the future of ferry travel in this country.

"Our customers understand that travelling by ferry is a convenient and comfortable way to cross the Irish Sea and we are seeing some evidence of a shift away from the "no frills" airlines to the more customer-focused service that we at Stena Line can provide. In spite of the volatile fuel market, in the first quarter of 2008 Stena Line’s Irish Sea routes carried a total of 14 per cent more cars and 13 per cent more passengers compared with the same period last year.

"Our strategy of a rolling investment programme which has included £150m in this route alone over the last ten years has been matched by our commitment to customer service. I feel that this exciting development combined with the new port that we are planning to build in Scotland will only serve to further enhance our offering in this market," he concluded.

Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Ireland to Britain, including the Belfast to Stranraer, Larne to Fleetwood, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin Port to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard routes. The company carries over three million passengers on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival ferry operators combined. The VT4 terminal has been in operation since the beginning of May.

DÚN LAOGHAIRE - HOLYHEAD DECELERATION

Ever increasing fuel prices would appear to be having an effect on the operation of HSS STENA EXPLORER. It is expected that an official announcement will be made confirming the adding of 10 minutes to Dún Laoghaire - Holyhead crossing times this week.

The new schedules from July 01, 2024 will be:

FISHGUARD RAIL LINK

The manager of Fishguard ferry terminal has expressed his disappointment that plans to improve rail links with Swansea were not mentioned in a 10-year blueprint on the future of train services. Network Rail last week unveiled how it hopes to improve services in Wales over the next decade in its Route Utilisation Strategy.

Plans to increase services on the Valley Lines and improve links between North and South Wales were among 24 recommendations.

But manager of the Stena Line- owned Fishguard port Ian Davies expressed disappointment that there were no proposals to improve services between the terminal and Swansea.

There are currently two return trains a day between the port and Swansea to connect with ferry services.

However, the number of ferry services increases from two to four between May and September with no connecting rail service for boats arriving at 10:00 and 17:00.

A recent study for the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium  (SWWITCH) suggested there is a business case for improving this link. But though the Route Utilisation Strategy suggests the infrastructure is in place for improved levels of service it says the link is tied to the ferry and does not recommend more frequent connections.

A SWWITCH spokesperson said their study findings emerged too late to be flagged up to Network Rail. A spokesperson for Network Rail said they are consulting on their plans and it’s not too late for improved Fishguard-Swansea links to be included in their final document. [ICWALES]

BELFAST TERMINAL OFFICIALLY OPENED

A Cork County Councillor has called for the injection of €100m (£78m) of public funds to compensate tourism businesses for the loss of the Swansea-Cork Ferry.

Hotels, B&Bs, post offices, petrol stations and other businesses are reported to be closing in West Cork which has been the region worst hit by the loss of the popular route two years ago.

Yesterday, however, Geoff Haden of Tourism Swansea Bay said businesses on the Welsh side of the Irish Sea were not as dependent on the ferry route. Bantry-based Cork county councillor John O'Shea is calling for a €100m aid package from Europe and the Irish Government to re-invigorate the region and help stop the closure of tourism- dependent businesses. [ICWALES]