Council to review ferry deal before new funding

Lancashire County Council should examine the contract for the Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry before agreeing to any further funding, the county councillor responsible for transport has said.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, councillor Warren Goldsworthy was responding after opposition leaders questioned whether the authority should meet a request for extra money to keep the service running.

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

Goldsworthy said the council had already agreed to contribute more than £57,000 and it was "unreasonable" to expect County Hall to pay double that amount.

He added that council experts should review the agreement with the ferry operators.

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

Council leader Michael Vincent said he will set up a meeting between the two authorities – and the current operator of the ferry – "immediately" to try to find a solution.

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

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.

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