TOURISM-reliant businesses in a Lake District honeypot village have sent out a message to visitors that they remain open for business despite Windermere ferry being out of action.

Many businesses on the western side of Windermere have seen trade hit after the car ferry stopped running following a fire in May.

The vessel needs a new motor and it could be out of action until October.

With up to 1,000 visitors a day normally making their way to the west of the lake via the ferry, their loss has been felt in Hawkshead where some businesses have reported a drop in takings of between 30 and 40 per cent.

With the summer holidays starting in earnest this week, tourism businesses have lobbied Cumbria County Council to ensure signage is in place that will make it easy for visitors to follow alternative routes to the village.

A foot passenger ferry service has been put in place but they are worried that without easy transport from the lake to the village people will be put off crossing.

The Hawkshead area is home to some of the Lake District’s premium brands including Hawkshead Relish and Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s family home, run by the National Trust.

At a meeting organised with the support of Merrick Solicitors’ #LawtoDoor service, shop owners, publicans and venue hosts discussed ways they can ensure they are not ignored.

Ed Johnson, licensee of the Kings Arms Hotel, said it was vital that visitors did not get the impression they could not reach Hawkshead.

“Having a good summer is what gets us through the winter time," he said. "It will cause us some real problems if it goes on without any action being taken.”

Liz Hunter-MacFarlane, house and collections manager with National Trust South Lakes, said it was up to local businesses and organisations to band together.

“We have to help promote each other and jointly promote a message that people can still get here without the car ferry,” she said.

Kim Merrick, of Poppi Red, added: “We need to be heard and our concerns taken seriously.”

The traders are urging all affected businesses to join in projects to get the ‘open for business’ message out including looking at waterside publicity, promoting the hashtag #HawksheadisOpen on social media and using their own websites to broadcast the news.

Maria Whitehead, director at Hawkshead Relish, who is a member of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Business Task Force, said: “Our shop has been considerably quieter. People think of the ferry as some fun thing, they don’t appreciate it’s used day in, day out. For it not to be running is having a big impact.”

Cumbria County Council confirmed last week it had commissioned signs advising businesses were open last week, and they were erected at key locations at either end of Windermere this week.

Details about the alternative ferry service are on this link

http://cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/highways-pavements/windermereferry.asp