Alliance Councillor Kellie Armstrong is encouraging the local community of Lower Ards and wider Strangford area to have say on the proposed new Strangford Ferry timetable.
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Alliance Councillor Kelly Armstrong is urging people in upper Ards and near Strangford to have their say on a ferry consultation over time changes. [/caption]
She said: “The DRD is inviting you to give your views on their proposed Strangford Lough Ferry Service timetable changes. The proposed changes include an additional early morning sailing from Portaferry on weekday mornings at 7.20am all year round.
“This would be offset by dropping the last two sailings in the evening (Sunday to Friday) from 1 October to 31 March.
“From 1 April to 30 September the existing evening sailings will be unchanged.”
A spokesperson for DRD said: “Passenger count records show that, on weekdays, the early morning demand exceeds the demand for the last sailings in the evening.
“In response to this demand and requests from the public and political representatives, the Department wants to explore the possibility of making the early sailing permanent.
“Over the course of the year, the total number of sailings will be the same.
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Councillor Kellie urges local people to respond to ferry consultation over time changes.[/caption]
“With customer focus at the centre of the proposals, we would encourage passengers to take this opportunity to express their views and engage with the public consultation process.”
“To comply with legislation regarding noise during specified hours at night, it will not be possible to provide an earlier sailing from Strangford.
“There are no proposals to change the overall number of sailings throughout the year. The consultation is open until 27 November 2015 and can be viewed at:
www.drdni.gov.uk/consultations
It will also be available at the Strangford ticket office or can be posted on request”.
Cllr Armstrong added: “As your local Councillor, who uses the ferry regularly, I have some concerns about the removal of the late night ferry during winter. This means people from the Peninsula will have limited travel on Sunday and weekday evenings. I am pleased to see that the late sailing on a Saturday will remain all year round.
“If you would like to discuss these proposed changes to ferry timings, please call me 07739371558 or email kellie.armstrong@allianceparty.org
“I have also asked if DRD officials could be available to attend a public meeting if locals wish to discuss the proposals in person.”
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