HOPES of running a river taxi service on the Forth appear to be sinking fast.

Fife Council commissioned a study to look at the feasibility of taking passengers from West Fife along the coast and across the river.

The idea was it would help tourist traps such as Aberdour, Culross and North Queensferry cope with an influx of visitors and alleviate pressure on the roads.

The study looked at the 70 miles of coast from Kincardine to Crail, vessels carrying 10-12 passengers to those ferrying more than 200 and the potential of running services to Newhaven, South Queensferry and North Berwick and attractions such as Inchcolm Island.

But the costs, lack of infrastructure, dredging, tidal conditions and the "unattractive commercial proposition" for existing operators look to have left the prospect dead in the water.

A report to the South and West Fife area committee yesterday (Wednesday) explained: "Various factors, including the inscription of the Forth Bridge as a World Heritage Site, the popularity of the Outlander TV series, the Fife Coastal Path and the development of the Fife Pilgrim Way mean that villages along the Forth are welcoming increasing numbers of visitors each year.

"It is understood that this is having an impact on the local environment, and that pressure on car-parking and road networks means solutions need to be found to move visitors around more effectively before the situation begins to have an impact on local residents.

"One part of the solution might be to encourage the development of waterborne travel on the River Forth as a novel but effective way of travelling along the Forth coast."

Members of the committee had, in May last year, sought to identify key partners, including Cruise Forth, community councils, trusts and clubs, as well as the required infrastructure upgrades and possible funding sources, to facilitate a "river taxi" connecting Kincardine, Culross, Limekilns, Rosyth, North Queensferry, Aberdour and Inchcolm.

Campbell Macrae Associates were commissioned and the scope widened to include 30 harbours, ports, docks and piers all the way up to Crail.

Gordon Mole, the council's interim chief officer for business and employability, said tidal conditions was a major issue and the "limited access window" at many of the harbours would restrict a regular timetabled passenger service.

His report said Anstruther, Aberdour, North Queensferry and Culross scored highly but added: "North Queensferry is unlikely to be feasible due to the likely high cost of providing safe passenger access and Culross has a limited tidal window and would also likely require significant capital investment."

It was thought Aberdour could link into existing itineraries to Inchcolm, Hawes Pier and possibly a new route to Newhaven but costs, lack of infrastructure, the tides and lack of operator interest left it an "unlikely" prospect.

Mr Mole said very few locations could offer safe, quick and easy passenger access and that buying a vessel would be prohibitive, meaning that they would have to work with existing operators to develop a passenger service.

All six were against the water taxi concept while three operators were "broadly receptive" to developing passenger services but cited "significant challenges".

Owners and managers of the harbours, piers and ports were "generally unsure" about the idea.

Mr Mole's report stated: "Based on the research and consultations, the report concludes that there is only limited scope for a water taxi service as envisaged at the outset.

"This is primarily based on tides and the limited access at most Fife Forth coast harbours but also influenced by the current lack of supporting infrastructure –safe passenger access, limited parking, access to toilets, etc – and the restricted roads access to and around many harbours.

"The distances involved, the fuel costs and the weather also contribute to making the water taxi concept an unattractive commercial proposition for owners, managers, operators and passengers."

The council said the idea could be revisited in the future, especially if and when Network Rail's proposals for a Forth Bridge Visitor Centre at North Queensferry are realised.