YOUTHS are making life difficult for Burnham ferry drivers to safely moor their boat by refusing to move when it arrives.
A number of youths are using the pier at Town Quay, Burnham-on-Crouch to congregate and sunbathe. But by leaving their legs dangling over the edge of the pontoon and refusing to move, they are making life impossible for the ferry to safely dock.
A safety sign at the pier discouraging people from using the facility to sunbathe was also vandalised.
Owners Jon Scott, 63, and his brother William, 66, have lived in Burnham for over 40 years and have run the ferryboat service since October 2012.
Jon, who encountered some youths on the pier when he arrived back on Saturday July 27, said: "I asked them to move off the pier as I arrived on the dock but they started swearing and shouting at me.
"The next day I returned to the pier and the sign had been thrown into the river.
"I'm not sure if they are on school holidays or what but this can't happen again. People need to realise that the pier is not for sunbathing on and not for hanging around on. And the signs cost money that we have to fork out for."
Jon has purchased an identical sign for £120, but he says it is an extra cost they could do without as the ferry, which runs between the Town Quay and Essex Marina, runs on a very tight budget.
"We've had some problems before but nothing serious – people need to be able to read the sign because operating without it can be dangerous – it can be an expensive business to run an operation like this and I hope people can respect that," added Jon.
But the brothers' main issue is for people to leave the pier when the boat approaches so they can safely pull in at the right spot.
"For us it's a safety issue – I don't want to be landing the boat when people are on the pier – what if I hit one someone, I will get that blame and they will be injured," added Jon. "If I can't land at that spot I have to try to land elsewhere and that can be dangerous for me and the customers.
"We try to offer a cheap and reliable service that people in Burnham can use and be proud of and behaviour like this puts our service in jeopardy."
