Open letter to Kent County Council: please reinstate the Gravesend/Tilbury ferry service!

The Gravesend/Tilbury ferry service was stopped on April 1st 2024. This  service provided an essential and convenient way for people to travel between Gravesend and Tilbury, and was widely used by people locally to get to school and work, as well as providing an essential service to connect both communities.

The ferry cancellation has deeply affected local communities. It has had a significant impact on businesses in the Gravesend town centre who are reporting a noticeable downturn in revenue. It is causing more pressure on the already over-used Dartford Crossing and surrounding roadways by removing an alternative form of cross-river transport.

Many people in Tilbury and Gravesend communities relied on the ferry as an easy way to get across the river, providing them with a lifeline to local amenities. This has now been removed.

There has been a ferry service between Gravesend and Tilbury for hundreds of years - it's part of our history, as well as our community. Its discontinuation has disrupted so many people's lives and routines, that many rely on for comfort and connection.

We understand the financial pressures that led to the ferry cancellation, but the ferry was a vital service to people and businesses locally. Losing it has really hurt local communities. 

We beg Kent County Council to act now and secure the funding to reinstate the Gravesend/Tilbury ferry, and to safeguard a long-term future for this vital local service.