Support for water taxi service between Gosport and Portsmouth

The water taxi that ran betwen Portsmouth and Gosport. at the weekend Picture: Ian Hargreaves (160695-2)

It comes as the service was used on a one-off basis on Saturday for a fair at Royal Clarence Yard.

The taxi took visitors from Portsmouth directly to the yard, off Weevil Lane, in Gosport.

Residents want the service – which used to run but ended in 2009 – to be reintroduced full-time to encourage more visitors to Royal Clarence Yard.

Skipper Edward Tiller ran the water taxi and met customers Victoria Boscaro and her children Monica and Charlotte
Picture: Ian Hargreaves (160695-1) — Skipper Edward Tiller ran the water taxi and met customers Victoria Boscaro and her children Monica and Charlotte Picture: Ian Hargreaves (160695-1)

Philippa Dickinson said: ‘The water taxi service was used by a lot of people on Saturday.

‘We hope having it back for one day proves that it is needed.

‘People were using it to go back and forth and it would benefit the businesses at Royal Clarence Yard.

‘It would also encourage more businesses to consider opening here as it is a direct link between Portsmouth and the yard.’

Around 1,500 people attended the Home, Garden and Craft Fair on Saturday.

It had a number of stalls and items for people to buy.

It was a good boost for the area which residents say has seen a lack of commercial interest with a lot of units standing empty.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage is supporting the introduction of the water taxi.

She said: ‘The reinstatement of the waterbus between Royal Clarence Yard and Portsmouth would be a wonderful addition to Portsmouth Harbour.

‘It will increase footfall to some of Gosport’s fantastic sites, including the Explosion Museum and Royal Clarence Yard.

‘I know that there is keen public interest and the running of the water taxi on was a great opportunity to test the commercial viability of the service.’