THE Gravesend to Tilbury passenger ferry has received a funding lifeline.
The future of the service has been secured for a further 12 months thanks to a £20,000 pledge of support from the Port of Tilbury.
The ferry is the last publically accessible crossing before the Thames reaches the sea and it is estimated up to 90 Port of Tilbury employees and tenants use it each day to get to work.
At least 25 return crossings are made six days a week, carrying up to 100 passengers per trip.
Perry Glading is chief operating officer at Forth Ports Limited which owns the Port of Tilbury.
He said: "The Gravesend to Tilbury Ferry is a historic link between Essex and Kent and its part of our DNA here at the Port of Tilbury, with historic references suggesting there has been a ferry of some sort since as far back as the 16th Century.
"Nowadays it’s an important communications link for residents on both sides of the Thames, helping to reduce commuter traffic on the often congested Dartford Crossing.
"Here at the Port of Tilbury we are delighted to support the ferry crossing and to maintain this important link."
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