A group of St George’s businesses has said a continued lack of ferry service would have a “drastic impact” on the town and has urged the Government to act immediately.

A spokesman for the St George’s Stakeholder Committee said the group held an emergency meeting to discuss the suspension of ferry service to the town.

“We talked about what would happen if no alternative is provided – how it would drastically impact event calendars, business opening hours, social issues within the town and employment of our staff,” the spokesman said.

“It was sobering and we agreed that the lack of public ferry transportation is simply not an option. The Government must do whatever they can to reinstate the ferry immediately.”

The spokesman added that they have shared their suggestions with their Members of Parliament, who assured them that they have been advocating on behalf of the town.

The meeting came in response to the Government’s announcement earlier this month that the Orange Ferry service between Dockyard and St George’s would be temporarily suspended to allow improvements to the ferry dock in the East End.

The Government said work on the repairs was to began last Wednesday – more than a week after the suspension began – and was expected to take five weeks.

However St George’s residents said that while a barge has arrived at the site, they had not seen work begin.

The announcement drew the ire of East End businesses who said the ferry service had bolstered foot traffic in the town during the cruise ship season and questioned why the work could not be done in the off-season.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Public Works said in response to questions by The Royal Gazette that there were no suitable alternative sites for the ferry to dock in St George’s.

“The bow loading operation is the safest means by which to on-board and disembark passengers,” he said. “All other locations in St George’s will create the same challenges.”

The spokesman added: “In support of our tourism industry and the Town of St George, the Marine and Ports staff tried their best to continue the service without the proper ramp; however, it was unsafe.”

The Government submitted a planning application to the ferry dock at Hunter’s Wharf last August, with work to include replacing rusted bollards, installing a handrail adjacent to the concrete ramp, install a mental gangway with a winch system and installing timber fender panels.

Planning approval for the project was approved on July 1 this year, and the Government filed for a building permit on July 4.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, said that while the work would ideally have been carried out during the off season, the current state of the dock had put the health and safety of passengers at risk.