Fife Council stops attempts for cross-Forth hovercraft

Fife councillors have agreed to call a halt to efforts to procure a cross-Forth hovercraft or ferry service.

However, the local authority confirmed it would be keen to offer non-financial support to any commercial operators interested in making the proposed Fife-Edinburgh link a reality.

Bus company Stagecoach has not given up hope the link, which was tried out from Kirkcaldy to Portobello in 2007, could materialise in years to come.

Last week, a Stagecoach Group spokesman said the firm was progressing with planning applications with both Fife Council and Edinburgh City Council for landing and passenger facilities.

Fife Council had been prepared to put forward £1 million towards establishing initial infrastructure but the funding could not be matched by Edinburgh.

Dr Bob McLellan, head of Fife’s transport services, said, “It’s not a case of this being off the agenda, but it is the case that at this time councils are not in a position to put funding into it.”