EAST Cambridgeshire District Council is calling for companies to come forward to run riverside boat trips along the Great River Ouse in Ely.

EAST Cambridgeshire District Council is calling for companies to come forward to run riverside boat trips along the Great River Ouse in Ely.

The authority owns and manages the Ely riverside and after the sad passing of the owner of Fenland River Cruises recently, a licence is available for anyone wishing to run boat trips along the river.

At a meeting of the Community Services Committee last night (Thursday, October 7), councillors agreed to instruct officers to tender a new licence for riverside trips and officers will now be looking for expressions of interest.

Cllr Peter Cresswell, chairman of the Community Services Committee, said: “The river has historically been the lifeblood of Ely – a place where trade and commerce brought prosperity to the city. Now it is a significant element of our tourism industry – a fantastic place to visit and enjoy a walk.

“The area has in recent years been enhanced by the river boat trips – although sadly one of the operators passed away recently. We want to encourage more people to use the riverside so we are inviting tenders from companies who can make a visit to the area even more memorable.”

INFO: For more information contact the leisure team on 01353 665555.