For nearly 200 years this ferry crossing, which slashed commuters’ travel time by 30 minutes, has been operating – but after the council announced its closure, locals have been left fuming
A vital ferry that connected two Lancashire towns since the 1840s is set to vanish.
The Fleetwood to Knott End ferry, a staple of local life for nearly two centuries, will no longer run after April 15 after Wyre Council failed to find a “financially viable” way to keep the boat afloat.
Wyre Council announced it will end when the contract expires – creating a logistical nightmare for those who use it every day.
The service carries up to 35 people per crossing, and cuts a 35 minute journey of 11 miles to just 10 minutes – perfect for commuters. But despite campaigners hoping to save the crossing and arguing it is a “vital service” and a “solid piece of heritage” the crossing will no longer run.
Officials have said they are working with Lancashire County Council, to try to “secure the long-term future of the ferry” but there is currently no “financially viable and deliverable proposal that would allow the service to continue beyond the current contract”.
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The statement said: “Wyre Council has today confirmed that the Fleetwood–Knott End ferry service is due to end on 15 April 2026. The Council remains in discussion with the current operator, Wyre Marine Services, regarding the future of the service.
“Over the past 18 months, the Council, working closely with Lancashire County Council, who jointly subsidise the existing service, has taken extensive steps 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.”
In a post by Wyre Council announcing the closure, some described the two-hundred century ferry as a “national treasure” and warned it would be a “devastating loss” to the economy.
The Council said: “If the service does not continue past 15 April 2026, the Council remains committed to exploring alternative options, including discussions with potential future operators and reviewing how existing Council assets could help support any future service.”
According to The Express, campaigner Anton Arenko, who started a petition last year when funding for the service seemed doubtful, described the latest announcement as a “massive blow”.
The filmmaker Mr Arenko, an avid supporter of the ferry, made an affectionate film called End to End about the ferry, which has been operating in various forms since the 19th century.
He said: “I am truly gobsmacked right now. I have no words left. I’m very confused how, despite our campaigning, they’ve allowed this to happen, I and the public were led to believe we were successful and a contract had been secured for another three years. This is a massive blow to a town that has lost too much.”
