by Dan Bloom

Dreams of a water taxi fleet in Medway have resurfaced after it was revealed Chatham's best-known pier will finally be repaired.

The mooring pontoon at Sun Pier, a stone's throw from the town centre, was damaged in a 2007 storm and never fixed.

Now, finally, Medway Council has pledged £180,000 to restore the pontoon and put 25 interpretation boards along the river.

It will return Sun Pier to the status of the only publicly-owned usable pier on the river.

Chiefs hope it will be ready in time for the council's river festival in June and can be used for private yachts, tourist boats and possibly a water taxi.

Plans have also been unveiled to turn the next-door Sun Pier House into an arts centre by the Gransden family of builders, who also own a popular century-old sailing barge.

River ward councillor Andrew Mackness (Con), who sits on the Chatham Maritime Trust, said it was excellent news.

"For opening up access to the river we thought it was very important to regenerate Sun Pier," he said.

A number of private firms are thought to be in talks with Medway Council about running a potential water taxi service.

In theory it could stop at Strood, Rochester, the Medway City Estate, Chatham Maritime and Gillingham Pier - but would take a large injection of public money.

Cllr Mackness has already visited Gosport in Hampshire to look at a similar scheme there.

He added: "We've got the redevelopment of Upnor in the future and we need people to get to the Medway City Estate so we want something people can use to get to work as well as a leisure service.

"You're not going to be going at 30 knots down the river but you'll be going from A to B uninterrupted."

The pier could also feature a cafe or restaurant, say council chiefs.

Council leader Rodney Chambers (Con) revealed the investment to a meeting of the Medway and Swale Boating Association. He told members: "The river has played a key part in the area’s history and should once again be at the very heart of efforts to unlock Medway’s full potential."

The move would be difficult and has failed in the past.

Chatham central councillor Julie Shaw (Lab) told a meeting last year: "Talk about deja vu, I’ve still got the information on this from 20 years ago.”