‘Vital’ 180-year-old ferry linking two UK seaside towns is being axed in just two days
A QUICK ferry route that spares Brits a half-hour car journey will cease operations this week.
The popular service, which connects two towns, has been in operation since the 1840s.
The ten-minute Fleetwood-Knott End ferry service in Lancashire is due to end on Wednesday, April 15.
This service carries 35 passengers from one side of the estuary to the other, sparing an 11 mile road commute via the Shard Bridge.
Wyre Council said the River Wyre service, which serves 30,000 people each year, was coming to an end because no “compliant tenders” to run it had been received after an 18-month search.
For three years, locals have been running a campaign to save the ferry, which they describe as a “vital service” and a “solid piece of heritage”.
“Gutted” called the upcoming ceasation of the “national treasure” a “devastating” move for the local economy.
Wyre Council had been working alongside Lancashire County Council, which jointly subsidises the service, to try to “secure the long term future of the ferry”.
“This has included early market engagement, a formal open tender process in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, and detailed discussions with organisations that expressed an interest in operating the service,” Wyre Council said.
However, the council said there was not currently a “financially viable and deliverable proposal that would allow the service to continue beyond the current contract”.
“We recognise the ferry is an important part of daily life for many residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North & Fleetwood and Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster & Wyre, shared a joint statement regarding the closure of the 600-metre crossing.
Describing how “deeply concerned and disappointed” they were over the outcome, the MPs wrote: “The Fleetwood–Knott End ferry is a valued and much‑loved service, relied upon by communities on both sides of the river.
“We strongly urge both councils to come together as a matter of urgency and prioritise finding a swift and sustainable solution.”
The service currently costs £2.50 per person one-way, with additional fees for those travelling with bikes and dogs.
The Sun has reached out to Wyre Marine Services for comment.
And a century-old ferry service based out of a popular seaside town recently plunged into liquidation.
