Great Yarmouth's e-scooter trial remains suspended as the town's operator accused the government of "kicking the can down the road".

Since 2021, parts of the town, Gorleston and Bradwell have been lined with grey and orange e-scooters as part of the trial.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council successfully applied to be included in the pilot to help the government decide whether or not to legalise e-scooters.

In under three years, the borough's Ginger riders travelled more than 250,000 miles - spanning the earth ten times.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Two Ginger e-scooters on the Jetty in Great Yarmouth.Two Ginger e-scooters on the Jetty in Great Yarmouth. (Image: Ginger)However, service was suspended on Wednesday, January 31 after the government announced a further extension to the national trial, which was scheduled to end in March 2022 but pushed back to November and again to May 2024.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Plenty of places to park, but no e-scooters available. Picture - Ginger Teleporter LtdPlenty of places to park, but no e-scooters available. Picture - Ginger Teleporter Ltd (Image: Ginger Teleporter Ltd)Ginger's chief executive Paul Hodgins said the company has been "forced" to suspend services due to "government uncertainty".

"The government has said they need the extension to collect more data, but they have not told anyone what additional data they need," he said. 

"It's just kicking the can down the road. 

"Turning one-year pilots into six-year pilots obviously does not give the certainty that private investors need. This makes it hard for operators, especially British operators that are trying to compete with EU and American providers that have been given an enormous head start.

"The delays are costing jobs in the UK, and driving away investment."

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Safety is our top priority and by extending the trials to May 2026, we're able to continue gathering evidence to better inform regulations."

Great Yarmouth Mercury: Great Yarmouth Borough councillor Daniel Candon.Great Yarmouth Borough councillor Daniel Candon. (Image: Submitted)Daniel Candon, GYBC's portfolio holder for Economic Development and Growth, said: "It’s unfortunate the Ginger e-scooter scheme has ceased at this current time. 

"We continue to monitor the situation and remain in proactive discussions. It’s also important for residents that we look into other options and their viability regarding any future micro-mobility initiatives."

In Norwich, the city's Beryl Bike and e-scooter scheme remains active.