RESIDENTS and businesses are demanding urgent action to help deal with the loss of the Windermere Ferry service following an engine fire in May.

At a public meeting Cumbria County Council was called on to improve diversion signs and fund extra public transport and a marketing campaign to boost tourism over the rest of the summer, as the deputy leader of the council admitted the ferry may be passed into private ownership in future.

The meeting was called by Hawkshead Parish Council and attended by more than 30 local residents and business owners, as well as members of Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council.

Councillor Matt Brereton, local member on both Cumbria County and South Lakeland District councils, said the meeting was “an important chance for the county council to listen to concerned local residents, to learn lessons from what has happened and to acknowledge that to residents and business holders in the area the ferry is a vital service linking communities and should be treated accordingly”.

The revised timeline puts the estimated date to complete the engine repair as 12 October, but Cllr Ian Stewart, deputy leader of Cumbria County Council Stewart admitted there could be further delays as the ferry would be subject to scrutiny before being certified to return to service by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).