RESIDENTS and businesses in the Hawkshead area have demanded urgent action to mitigate the loss of the Windermere Ferry following an engine fire in May.

At a public meeting they called on Cumbria County Council to improve temporary diversion signs, and to consider funding extra public transport options and a marketing campaign to boost tourism over the remainder of the summer.

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

Attendees at the Hawkshead Market Hall meeting also called for parking charges to be suspended or reduced to boost the number of motorists stopping off in the village.

Cllr Matt Brereton, the local member on Cumbria County Council, 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”.

Cllr Ian Stewart, deputy leader of the county council, said the council had been given the date of October 12 for the completion of the fitting of the engine. The ferry would then need to be certified to return to service by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

Cllr Stewart said in the future it may be that someone other than the council could operate the ferry on behalf of the authority but added there had been no discussions about it yet.

He suggested waiting to see the benefits of the planned marketing campaign by Cumbria Tourism, from funding made available following the Lakes Line rail suspension, before thinking about what to do next.

Attendees at the meeting in Hawkshead Market Hall questioned why it had taken council officers so long to order a replacement engine for the ferry, and why there had been very little information circulated to local people and visitors about the vessel being out of service and how to reach Hawkshead, Near and Far Sawrey and High Wray by alternative means.

Attendees also suggested that more effective permanent signage was erected, as Hawkshead was a bit of a “blackspot” that was inadequately signposted even from neighbouring villages.

The meeting also called for the council to work with organisations including the National Trust to explore a mini-bus shuttle service between the ferry at the west side of Windermere and businesses and visitor attractions.

SeaKing Electrical at Birkenhead has won the contract to repair The Mallard and has begun installing electrics and cabling. A new fire detection system will be installed to protect the wheel-house, engine room, secure room and passenger accommodation.