Campaigners striving to keep the Fleetwood to Knott End ferry have welcomed reports that funding has now been secured until 2029.
The ferry service was able to continue in 2022 thanks to a joint £80,000 investment from Lancashire County Council and Wyre Council, which allowed the service to run until April 2026.
But at Wyre’s full council meeting on Thursday October 23, Cllr Peter Le Marinel, Planning Policy and Economic Development Portfolio Holder, said he had not had a response from County Hall about the way forward after April next year.
The contract expires at the end of March and must be renewed, while a new package of funding is required.
However, campaigner Anton Arenko, who runs the Save Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry campaign, says he had received confirmation that funding had now been secured.
He was speaking after Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Lorraine Beavers said over the weekend that the county council had confirmed they will match Wyre’s commitment.
On the campaign Facebook page he said: “Today is a real victory – after four months of constant campaigning and over three thousand signatures, we have received confirmation that the future of Fleetwood to Knott End Ferry will be secure for a further three years until 2029.
“Wyre Council had agreed to this quite promptly, however after a period of weeks with no response from Lancashire County Council, Member for Parliament for Blackpool North and Fleetwood Lorraine Beavers, confirmed they will match Wyre’s commitment.
“Some, both online and in the media, were sceptical of me starting this petition from July when the contract didn’t expire until April 2026.
“However, starting an early campaign and bringing it to the forefront to the minds of both councils demonstrates the true power of local people coming together, launching a campaign to fight to protect not only one of their vital services but a solid piece of heritage.”
Lorraine Beavers said: “I’ve had it confirmed by email from LCC (Lancashire County Council) that funding will be in place for the next three years, which is excellent news.”
Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council have both been approached to confirm that funding will now be in place.
A spokesman for Wyre said that the council was expected to be “issuing tender documents in December with anticipated award of the contract prior to April 2026.”
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