News / Politics
Mayor rules out council cash for hydrogen ferry
Bristol City Council (BCC) will not fund the city’s hydrogen ferry – introduced to help showcase Bristol’s green credentials – the mayor has confirmed.
George Ferguson said at the weekend that he shared the views of Conservative councillor Richard Eddy that the Hydrogenesis project had been poor value for money.
He said the vessel – hailed as a means to help kickstart a new chapter in environmentally-friendly marine engineering when it was launched in Bristol last summer – was “a highly expensive publicly funded experiment with a disappointingly brief life”
Bristol City Council invested £225,000 in the project, which was highlighted its successful bid to win its status as European Green Capital 2015.
But Mr Ferguson insisted there was “no prospect” of the council continuing to fund the project in the future.
“I have to say I rather agree with Cllr Eddy in terms of poor value for money. I would never have entered into such an arrangement – a highly expensive publicly funded experiment with a disappointingly brief life,” he said.
“Having said that the hydrogen ferry did serve Bristol well in adding to our credentials as a candidate for European Green Capital, and for that we should be grateful.
“Against my own predictions, the technology did prove to work reliably and safely, and to deliver zero emissions. The project also stimulated national and international interest, recognition and awards from the marine industry.
“To have any future the project requires collaboration from the ferry owner and operator, Bristol Hydrogen Boats Ltd, industry, Government and other agencies that wish to mainstream zero-carbon technologies. However there is no prospect of the council continuing to fund this project into the future.”
Mr Ferguson spoke to Bristol24/7 after Cllr Eddy and Liberal Democrat councillor Christian Martin both said they would be raising questions about the ferry’s future in the next month.
The ferry – licensed to carry up to 12 passengers per journey – remains operational and is moored near the ss Great Britain, but the project stalled when the temporary refuelling station fitted for the six-month project was removed in November last year and has not been replaced.
Tory Councillor Richard Eddy said yesterday he is ready to quiz mayor George Ferguson over what he described was a “vanity project”.
Cllr Martin meanwhile has also weighed into the debate, announcing yesterday he will call in the project for scrutiny by a cross-party group of councillors next month.
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