OSLO: Ferry route between Newcastle and its historic Scandinavia are going to be re-established to gathering the neighbor pace. Newcastle City councilors will next week be asked to support proposals to bring back the journey between Newcastle and Bergen and Stavanger in Norway, which was last operated in 2008.
Liberal Democrat councilor Greg Stone wants the council to publicly endorse the International Campaign for a Ferry to Norway (ICFN) and Norwegian Seaways’ tentative plans to pick-up the 130-year-old route.
Council Stone, who represents the North Heaton ward, said now is the time to act as oil prices have dropped and the line might be financially viable once again.
“It’s important for the council to be involved in supporting improved transport connectivity at all levels.
“There’s been a lot of attention paid to air routes and rail connection but we should also remember that until very recently an important connection was to Scandinavia and it had a significant boost to tourism.
“Given that there is increased demand by grass roots campaigners for the Norway route to be reinstated and interest from both sides in restoring it, it’s time that the council looks at this,” said Council Stone whose motion will be debated and voted on at a city council meeting held on January 7.
The historic link between Norway’s second largest city, Bergen, and Newcastle stretches back several centuries due to trade and the commercial ferry route, and the two towns are also formerly twinned.
The King of Norway, Olav V, opened Newcastle’s Civic Centre in 1968 and each December since the Second World War the City is presented with a Christmas Tree by the City of Bergen with its mayor attending every year for the annual lights switch-on.
In late 2014 company Norwegian Seaways began preliminary work to attempt to gain start-up funding to run the route once again, and this has been backed by campaigners on both sides of the North Sea, including the grassroots group International Ferry to Norway.
A member of The Scottish National Party (SNP) Angus MacDonald, representative for Falkirk, also backs the plans.
Council Stone said: “The Scottish Parliament is also looking at this. There are right now fruitful discussions with a shipping operator and a ferry company who are saying there is demand and it would be beneficial. Newcastle needs to get behind this.”
Council Stone will ask councilors next week to give support to the International Campaign for a Ferry to Norway (ICFN), assist the preparation of feasibility work by the Newcastle Gates head Initiative and Port of Tyne, as well as lobby the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and North East Combined Authority to provide appropriate practical support.
