The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Water taxi service looks to expand after fine first year
Organisers consider new stops in 2018
A water taxi project is looking to expand following a successful debut season.
The initiative was launched at Perth earlier this summer as part of a teamup between council chiefs, maritime training charity Taymara and the Tay and Earn Trust.
Organisers said more than 1,340 people have booked trips this summer, with June, July and August the busiest months.
Now council bosses are looking at ways of expanding the service, with a possible new stop at Newburgh.
A council spokeswoman said: “The first year of pontoons on the River Tay has been a great way to show the potential the river has to offer new leisure and tourism opportunities in the city.
“The pontoons will soon be packed away for the winter season, but officers will be continuing to look at work to develop additional assets along the river.”
Adam Burns, manager at the Willowbank Activity Centre, said: “Willowgate Activity Centre has seen a very positive effect from the boats trips on the River Tay by helping to increase visitor numbers.
“For example, a corporate team away day can include activities at the centre, barbecue lunches at the cafe and a boat trip into Perth for a night out.”
He added: “It’s great to see more people enjoying the river and the potential when working together is limitless.”
The project was launched thanks to £700,000 funding from the Big Lottery’s Coastal Communities Fund.
Due to tide times, boating trips need to operate during restricted hours and have been weather dependent, although since its launch in July there have been on only two cancelled trips.
The pontoons represent the first major project to be carried out as part of the Perth City Plan, a vision of improvements to be rolled out over the next 20 years.