Welcome to SLC. Re-igniting previous attempts to consider an alternative self financing crossing over Strangford Lough. As a significant point of progress, SLC, on 14th November 2024, has been added to the NI Roads website (Futures section), which chronicles all Northern Ireland Roads and also recently County Donegal Roads.

Short term aims/deliverables: To help the community and have a self financing alternative Strangford Lough Crossing added to DfI Draft Transport Strategy to 2035 and particularly, the Eastern Transport Plan which includes the local transport movements for 5 council areas including Ards & North Down where Portaferry is located.

Key content (click text below)

2024

November 2024 Community Survey Results

9th October 2024: Based on the response provided in the letter from the Department for Infrastructure, I can provide an updated analysis of the ferry costs and comparison to the previous calculations

14th October 2024: Analysis comparing the Cleddau ferry and Bridge (Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK) to a potential Strangford Lough crossing

18th October 2024 – Open letter to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA

21st October 2024 – Home of MV Portaferry (Cleddau King) 1960’s to 2024

23rd October 2024 – DfI – Not a ‘Life line’ route

29th October 2024 – Critique of DfI responses to letters

7th November 2024: Alternative use for Strangford Lough subsidy funds

11th November 2024 – The politics of Strangford Ferry and any SLC

13th November 2024 – If shops/traders say they shall lose business, with a bridge taking away traffic, what would response be ?

14th November 2024 – Economic Impact Assessment – Strangford Lough Crossing

14th November – Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy bridge (RFK) span issues and lessons learnt, compared to Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC)

14th November 2024 – ‘Megafunds’ shake-up of local government pension schemes – for long term investment – SLC ?

17th November 2024 – Is alternative crossing (SLC) likely to affect existing tourism ?

19th November 2024 – The likely landing zone if political will to proceed with a self financing SLC

22nd November 2024 – SLC proposal cross referenced to point raised in All Ireland Strategic Rail Review – enable modal shift to active travel

25th November 2024 – Reference back to 2015 failed attempt to alter ferry timetable.

25th November 2024 – Strangford Ferry v Bridge travel times, Environmental review & Treasury Green Book

27th November 2024 – Tourism Ireland: Ireland’s Ancient East, The Blue Economy & SLC

4th December 2024 – Census 2021 v 2011 (Ards / Newry Council Areas)

6th December 20240 – Cited 96.69% reliability figure for the Strangford Ferry service – does not measure effectively and usefully for general public

9th December 2024 – Strangford ferry service and hindered economic development in the Ards area

9th December 2024 – DfI and positive spin. Imagine if privately operated Strangford ferry service

11th December 2024 – Detailed analysis of the potential impacts and opportunities of a Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) connecting near Portaferry and Ardglass

16th December 2024 – Regional balance and the lack of investment in South Down/Ards Borough Areas

Final analysis for 2024 – Question. In 1969, should a bridge have been built ?

31st December 2024 – Request for Information – Environmental issues – Negligence, Ambivalence or Cover Up ?

2025

1st January 2025 – Looking forward – 2025 Shared Island Initiative & SLC

7th January 2025 – Optimists v Pessimists, by age groups.

15th January 2025 – Peninsula falling school enrollment numbers and SLC support

16th January 2025 – RCN Corridor Care Report / Bengoa and SLC

17th January 2025 – Meeting secured with Jim Shannon MP to discuss SLC

23rd January 2025 – ‘Not a life-line route’ evidence check

27th January 2025 – Strangford Ferry – Max 34% actual usage

28th January 2025 – DfE Sub-Regional Economic Plan & SLC

29th January 2025 – Up the DfE rankings & SLC

31st January 2025 – DfI promoting Active Travel between communities & SLC

4th February 2025 – Innovative funding method for SLC

25th February 2025 – Response to Public Health Agency Corporate Plan 2025-2030 Consultation

5th March 2025 – Strangford Ferry v Cleddau bridge daily traffic volumes: A comparison to smaller, similar UK bridges over period 2029 – 2038

20th March 2025 – Historic desire for a permanent crossing – indifference ?

20th March 2025 – Electric ferry v Bridge ?

24th March 2025 – Hidden cost of inefficient ferry operations

25th March 2025 – Call for Infrastructure Commission

31st March 2025 – Three strand approach to enhancing Northern Ireland’s connectivity