Major news as future of beloved Fleetwood to Knott End ferry revealed by Wyre and Lancashire County Councils

The future of the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry has been secured for another 12 months after Lancashire County Council and Wyre Council reached an agreement to continue supporting the service.

The deal means the cross-river ferry will continue operating for another year, with the possibility of moving towards a longer-term contract in 2027.

In a statement, the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry said: “We are delighted to announce that Lancashire County Council (LCC), in partnership with Wyre Borough Council (WBC), have jointly agreed to support the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry for a further 12 months.

“This agreement secures the future of the service for another year, with the opportunity to move towards a longer-term contract next year. We would like to thank both councils for their continued support and commitment to the ferry service, and everyone who has supported us throughout this process.

“We have also purchased a smaller vessel which is faster and more capable of operating closer to the sandbanks at lower water levels. This will help us to provide longer sailing hours and improve the reliability of the service.

“She is currently undergo a refit whereby we are fitting a plough to the vessel therefore she will be able to plough the ferry berth to further increase our running hours. We have a programme of dredging campaigns planned throughout the coming year to help manage the build-up of silt and maintain access to the ferry route and berths.

“As part of securing the future of the service, we will also be taking on new crew members, with vacancies to be advertised in the coming months. Our new skipper is currently working his notice with his previous employer and will be joining us permanently. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the contract, we have unfortunately been unable to appoint him sooner.

“We ask passengers to please bear with us over the coming month while we are temporarily short staffed. We are working hard behind the scenes to get the team fully in place and look forward to providing a reliable service for the year ahead.

“Most importantly, we ask that you continue to support your local ferry. Local businesses on both sides of the Wyre are facing challenging times, and visiting local shops, cafes, pubs and businesses and making purchases can make a real difference to local families and our community.

“The ferry is more than just a crossing, it connects two communities and supports local businesses on both sides.

“Thank you to everyone who has supported the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry. We are incredibly pleased to be able to continue the service and look forward to working towards securing its long term future.”

The agreement follows months of uncertainty surrounding the future of the service. A temporary funding arrangement had been due to end on September 30, meaning the ferry could have stopped operating if a new agreement was not reached.

Earlier this year, attempts to secure a new contract to run the service through to 2029 at the existing level of subsidy attracted no bids.

The situation prompted discussions over whether additional public funding could be justified. Lancashire County Council had indicated it could be willing to pay more towards keeping the ferry running, but wanted to establish that increased support represented value for the public purse.

The ferry has operated under an eight-year agreement between Wyre Council and Wyre Marine Services, signed in 2018. It had initially been hoped that the service could eventually operate commercially, but the impact of the Covid pandemic and rising fuel costs subsequently increased the need for taxpayer support.

The latest agreement provides a further year of operation while work continues towards finding a longer-term future for the ferry.