Gateway’s vision for a network of piers to serve Thames towns (From Echo)

Nigel Holdcroft and his friends have had many visions about the future of the pier but not sure if they are little green men at the bottom of gardens or based on creative writing sessions at The Civic Centre.
The Public has been consulted about the Pier's Future many times but their wishes have been ignored as all we hear about are Boutique Hotels and the likes. There has been over 40 years of public consultation and all we have as a result is a pier devoid of any attraction except a walkway, a railway, an RNLI Shop, one cafe, a portaloo and a sundeck with no disabled access.
The use of the pier for a water taxi has been mooted before but nothing has materialised. Councillor Ric Morgan came up with a cracking idea that the Pier should be used for this very idea for the 2012 Olympics. We all know had that his good idea had no chance with this administration of all talk and no action. This will be this inevitably be the case with this latest "good idea". Oh! I wish I could be proved so wrong.

Nigel Holdcroft, said "it would fit in perfectly with the council’s plans..."

Nigel, thats all this council ever come up with is plans (which includes your compulsory consultancy) and nothing more.

This town and its 'world famous' attraction has become a laughing stock, and you and your council is 100 percent solely responsible.

excuse after excuse, delay after delay....

Fantastic idea, very feasible/viable and could probably be bought in to service very quickly as I am sure there are many little-used piers already available and would probably only need slight modifications to enable a passenger taxi service to start.

good idea but what happens when the tide goes out..?? I think the waters are far too shallow around our coastline for this to become a regular service.

And before anyone mentions building longer piers the shipping lane is about to become full of suprtankers heading for the new port.

BD wrote:
good idea but what happens when the tide goes out..?? I think the waters are far too shallow around our coastline for this to become a regular service. And before anyone mentions building longer piers the shipping lane is about to become full of suprtankers heading for the new port.

The taxis need a very shallow draught and when the tide goes out it does not leave the piers out of the water.

BD wrote:
good idea but what happens when the tide goes out..?? I think the waters are far too shallow around our coastline for this to become a regular service. And before anyone mentions building longer piers the shipping lane is about to become full of suprtankers heading for the new port.

Southend Pier is as long as it is just because of that reason, the pier head is always in the "deep water" so there is no problem there, the same with the London Piers have you ever seen the river bus fleet in London stop because of low tide I have not.

Don't think I'd want a water taxi ride to from Southend to London in winter. Have you been out in the estuary in December when there is a south westerly blowing?

It's total non starter and would be a waste of time and taxpayers money

It doesn't matter what ambitious plans come up for the pier if the council continue to use their own staff they will fail, a useless bunch of civil servants who's only interest in life is to do as little work as possible they will wreck any plans

Rick Jones wrote:

BD wrote: good idea but what happens when the tide goes out..?? I think the waters are far too shallow around our coastline for this to become a regular service. And before anyone mentions building longer piers the shipping lane is about to become full of suprtankers heading for the new port.

Southend Pier is as long as it is just because of that reason, the pier head is always in the "deep water" so there is no problem there, the same with the London Piers have you ever seen the river bus fleet in London stop because of low tide I have not.

I thought you could walk to the end of the pier at low tide??!

Id like to see it happen but Id imagine it would be a leisure thing rather than a business alternative.

briasy1 wrote:
It doesn't matter what ambitious plans come up for the pier if the council continue to use their own staff they will fail, a useless bunch of civil servants who's only interest in life is to do as little work as possible they will wreck any plans

This article is not about Southend pier so stop whingey/whining about it. This is about a river taxi service and if the people southend/leigh dont want to take part then good, but other people living up river do.

"Mad 'M', Canvey says...
10:29am Fri 5 Dec 08
Fantastic idea, very feasible/viable and could probably be bought in to service very quickly as I am sure there are many little-used piers already available and would probably only need slight modifications to enable a passenger taxi service to start."

Mad by name mad by nature!!

Forget all this nonsense about a water taxi to London coz it’s anon starter

Tell me this: In the middle of winter, how many people are going to bother to travel a quarter of a mile on a rickity old pier train to the end of the pier, hop onto a cold and damp water taxi, then spend two hours bobbing and swaying up the Thames in a strong south westerly wind, avoiding huge container ships and riding their wash all for a fare that will be a lot more than if you go by train or in a nice warm and cosy car?

I’ll tell you who: very very few

Mad M - Gold star for attention! - This is a Thames Gateway idea hijacked by the hapless Southend Council, with a few comments by consultancies and local politicians with an agenda.
As ideas go it's fine but would rely on lots of private cash to start up and run. Remember the ill fated river taxis in the City where even a thriving and regular usage barely provided a profit.

A University of Life Sage wrote:
"Mad 'M', Canvey says... 10:29am Fri 5 Dec 08 Fantastic idea, very feasible/viable and could probably be bought in to service very quickly as I am sure there are many little-used piers already available and would probably only need slight modifications to enable a passenger taxi service to start." Mad by name mad by nature!! Forget all this nonsense about a water taxi to London coz it’s anon starter Tell me this: In the middle of winter, how many people are going to bother to travel a quarter of a mile on a rickity old pier train to the end of the pier, hop onto a cold and damp water taxi, then spend two hours bobbing and swaying up the Thames in a strong south westerly wind, avoiding huge container ships and riding their wash all for a fare that will be a lot more than if you go by train or in a nice warm and cosy car? I’ll tell you who: very very few

Like I said, if you can read, that is if southend people dont want it others do. I live on Canvey so I am hardly going travel to Southend am I. Der der. Miserabl old ~@*^$$ like you are always very negative about everything and as for 'A University of Life Sage' I think it sholud be 'life less'.

thelonewhinger wrote:
Mad M - Gold star for attention! - This is a Thames Gateway idea hijacked by the hapless Southend Council, with a few comments by consultancies and local politicians with an agenda. As ideas go it's fine but would rely on lots of private cash to start up and run. Remember the ill fated river taxis in the City where even a thriving and regular usage barely provided a profit.

It's not a fine idea it's a total waste of time in todays society.

Can you see some city slicker using the service to drop him off by Canary Wharf

As a leisure pursuit, some type of boat off the pier may have a market for OAPs to waste away a few lazy hours in the summer but this type of taxi will not work

Mad M Canvey:

Theres no need to be like that is there?........

So if this nonsense gets past the planning stage then you'll be the first one on it up bobbing up to London eh?

I doubt it and you'll be on the train or the A13 like the rest of us

A University of Life Sage wrote:

thelonewhinger wrote: Mad M - Gold star for attention! - This is a Thames Gateway idea hijacked by the hapless Southend Council, with a few comments by consultancies and local politicians with an agenda. As ideas go it's fine but would rely on lots of private cash to start up and run. Remember the ill fated river taxis in the City where even a thriving and regular usage barely provided a profit.

It's not a fine idea it's a total waste of time in todays society. Can you see some city slicker using the service to drop him off by Canary Wharf As a leisure pursuit, some type of boat off the pier may have a market for OAPs to waste away a few lazy hours in the summer but this type of taxi will not work

Can you imagine, some long haired, whispy beard, old do do who probably gets sea sick walking thru a puddle. Get a life. And whats 'a city slicker', dont think I heard that expression used in many years !!!

Mad M - Derrrr, I was in fact agreeing with you - because the whole debate was revolving around (or under!) Southend Pier.
If you want to escape up river from Canvey - and who would blame you? I am sure you could raise the cash to develop the scheme... PS How de yer know I am not a cheerful young xx++@$$ then! - Takes one to know one.

A University of Life Sage wrote:
Mad M Canvey: Theres no need to be like that is there?........ So if this nonsense gets past the planning stage then you'll be the first one on it up bobbing up to London eh? I doubt it and you'll be on the train or the A13 like the rest of us

If it gets me away from the types of you then most definately, but then when was the last time you travelled to London, in particular tvia the A13.

thelonewhinger wrote:
Mad M - Derrrr, I was in fact agreeing with you - because the whole debate was revolving around (or under!) Southend Pier. If you want to escape up river from Canvey - and who would blame you? I am sure you could raise the cash to develop the scheme... PS How de yer know I am not a cheerful young xx++@$$ then! - Takes one to know one.

I think you are a little muddled my insults go entirely to the 'Life Less Sage'. Lets not start trying to slag off Canvey now just because you cant read !!

Mad M:

Changed the name for you - happy now?

My business proposition for this pie in the sky scheme is to call it "Mad M's Taxi".

We'd even let you drive and wear a sailors cap!

LOL

A University of Lifeless Sage wrote:
Mad M: Changed the name for you - happy now? My business proposition for this pie in the sky scheme is to call it "Mad M's Taxi". We'd even let you drive and wear a sailors cap! LOL

Now, now, mind that puddle. You've definately got some weird stereotypic misconceptions about people haven't. When was the last time you ventured outside?

As a Southend resident who can not only read but write as well (& yes, I was educated within the borough before you ask!), I would like to say that I believe the idea of using the Thames for a regular service to Greenwich sounds a good idea. I do not feel it could replace the commuter services offered by the railways though for obvious reasons, & would, no doubt, be very seasonal in it's use.
However, haven't we all been here before?????

A taxi service that could take between 6-9hours on a round trip from London and back possibly cost more than a train or car. you work it out Mad M.
There is potential for pleasure trips but you would not employ a bunch of consultants to come up with a viable idea./

Mad M

I've just been for a walk down by the seafront near Thorney Bay and looked out to where your beloved taxi is proposed to run. It's pitch black out there, pi**ing with rain and freezing cold.

Do you still think people will be queueing up to use it? If so you truly are mad

Sorry my son, but yo've lost this one

They'd be better off running boats across the river to Kent.
I can't see the point in a boat running all the way to London, when the railways would be able to do it much more quickly.

Dont stress out there you guys. It's another Pier/Council/Consult
ant/Renaissance/Rene
wal/Thames Gateway/Echo type wind up. It'll never happen just like all the other Pier Wonder Ideas but it gets us writing, so DO NOT TAKE SERIOUSLY. Southend United have a better chance of thrashing Chelsea 8-0 away from home in the Cup than this becoming a reality.

Tend to agree with the majority on here, although as Fred26 it might be viable to Sheerness if it was reliable enough.

A nice idea for a leisure route, but no-one would go all the way into London on it for business purposes.

Various people have played around with the idea of water taxis. As far as I know, none have been a great success.

Still a fantastic idea and I wish them every success in getting it going even if the half a dozen or so very negative commentors here don't want it.

A great idea ?

Many have tried and failed.

APR wrote:
A great idea ? Many have tried and failed.

When ???

I have nver heard of anyone running a river boat service from Canvey !!