Ferry operator disappointed over funding decision

Wyre Council and the company that runs the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry have both said they are disappointed after learning Lancashire County Council will not increase its funding for the service.

Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry Ltd said it had worked closely with councils and had been "led to believe the service was progressing towards a new contract".

Lancashire County Council is responsible for the running costs but, under an agreement, has shared them with Wyre Council, with each authority paying half.

The county council's cabinet member for highways and transport, Warren Goldsworthy, said more money for the ferry would take funding away from other services.

The operator said it had invested in the new vessel's refit, making it "faster, more versatile and better suited to operating close to the sandbanks".

It added: "It is therefore extremely disappointing to have learned of Lancashire County Council's funding decision through social media, before receiving any direct communication that we could pass on to our employees, passengers and the wider community.

"We would also like to correct the suggestion that a new contract had been agreed before we asked for additional funding. This is not the case. Throughout discussions, we have worked to reduce the level of financial support required from the councils."

The service, which has been running since the 1840s, was due to cease operating in April this year - but a last minute reprieve enabled it to keep operating temporarily.

The ferry company said, while the future of the service remains uncertain, it has been unable to recruit or train additional staff and is operating with reduced staffing.

It added: "It is particularly upsetting to reach the end of summer in this position. Just two weeks ago, we experienced one of our busiest weeks."

A Wyre Council spokeswoman said: "There has been a long-standing agreement between Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council that any subsidy required to keep the ferry service running will be paid equally by the two authorities.

"We are very disappointed that Lancashire County Council have not agreed to honour the agreement and pay their portion and hope they will reconsider."

Warren Goldsworthy said the county council agreed funding of £57,110 a year for the next three years, adding: "After the funding arrangement was agreed, we were asked to provide a significant additional contribution.

"We consider every financial decision carefully and if we had agreed to pay this then money would have been taken away from budgets already agreed to support services that people in Lancashire rely on."

The operator said it is continuing to work with Wyre Council to explore "every possible option" to secure its future.

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