Blackpool North & Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers to keep fighting for 'at risk' Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry

The Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry is once again at risk because Lancashire County Council is refusing to pay its half of the subsidy needed to keep the service running.

As the transport authority, keeping Lancashire connected should be one of the county council’s most basic responsibilities. Protecting the ferry costs around £40,000 from a total budget of £1.329 billion. This is subsidised public transport, just like rural bus services, educational travel and ferry services elsewhere in the country.

For more than 100 years, the ferry has connected Fleetwood, Knott End and surrounding communities. It helps people access services, supports local businesses and is part of our town’s history. At a time when Fleetwood is receiving £20 million of investment to help regenerate our town, the last thing we need is another public service being taken away.

I will keep fighting to protect it and I hope our local County Councillors will do the same.

I was also out in Fleetwood this week talking to residents about Pride in Fleetwood and how we use that £20 million investment. This money has to deliver what local people actually want, so hearing directly from residents is absolutely vital.

We will be using surveys, community events, social media, doorstep conversations and plenty of other ways to make sure as many people as possible have their say.

I also met with local SEND families this week and came away angry, heartbroken and inspired by what I heard.

My office deals with far too many families fighting endlessly for the support their children need. Lancashire County Council may be processing some EHCPs more quickly, but a faster process means very little if the specialist support simply is not there afterwards.

I know this is not only about the County Council. Government has a responsibility to improve the system too and ensure councils are properly held to account.

Before recess I took families’ experiences and ideas into Parliament, and I will keep doing that. Locally, I am also working to expand specialist provision beyond the additional places already announced by Government. More specialist spaces would support children with complex needs while also relieving pressure on families, teachers and mainstream classrooms.

Finally, it was brilliant to spend time with the team at Fleetwood Delivery Office, officially the number one sorting office in Lancashire and the 11th best in the country.

I visited to hear how the new Universal Service Obligation is working in practice. Staff gave some positive feedback, but also raised concerns around staffing. I will be speaking to the Communication Workers Union to make sure those concerns are heard.