THE launch of Oxford’s first canal Water Bus took an unexpected course yesterday – after its owners discovered it was one centimetre too big to fit through a lock.

The six-week trial service, running from the Oxford canal at Hythe Bridge Street in the city centre to Aristotle Lane in the north of the city is due to get under way today, but the bus’s inaugural trip did not go according to plan.

The Water Bus, hired from the Norfolk water bus fleet, could not fit through Isis Lock and as a result had to take its maiden voyage on the River Thames.

Project manager Alan Joyce said: “It met the specifications and should have gone through the lock, but she’s 19 years old and a bit of middle-age spread has set in, as it does, and it was literally one centimetre too big.”

The man behind the concept, Sir Christopher Ball, from Jericho, who runs the Oxford Water Bus, said: “We measured it very carefully and the boat we hired from the Norfolk fleet met the specifications, but when it arrived it just wouldn’t fit through.

“If we put a belt around it and squeezed we would’ve got it through.”

Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel said: “It’s such a pity that they had this unexpected hiccup because apart from that, the project has been very well organised and I wish it every success.”

The Water Bus is due to operate an hourly service from 10am until 6pm seven days a week until mid-October.

The service is expected to begin as planned this morning at 10am.

A ticket costing £10 for adults and £6 for children, will be valid for a non-stop round trip or a same day return.

Those who embarked on the inaugural trip, including City Council leader Bob Price, enjoyed a short trip up Castle Mill Stream, a backwater of the Thames.

Mr Price said: “It’s a very exciting prospect for bringing tourists into the city – it opens up a different part of the city not currently open to tourists.

“It also encourages people to commute by carbon-neutral boat, but I think it will be used more by tourists.

“It’s not cheap and it’s the kind of thing that has a great interest for people coming to Oxford.”

The brains behind the idea, Sir Christopher and Lady Wendy Ball have big aspirations for their Water Bus service.

Sir Christopher said: “Assuming the trial goes well myself and Wendy will buy one or two of these boats and restart the trips next April when it gets warmer.

“The further dream is to put them on the Thames and the River Cherwell so Oxford will be surrounded by these boats, but we need to take it step by step.”

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