A WIRRAL ferry terminal could be shut as part of a 20-year strategy that will be put before Merseytravel bosses next month.

The plan centres around reducing ferry running costs for the public, building on their commercial potential and ensuring they are sustainable.

On the table is the closure of either Seacombe or Woodside terminals in a bid to make the ferries profitable. 

No jobs are thought to be under threat.

The move has been criticised by Wirral Council leader Phil davies, who said: 

"I am pleased MerseyTravel are reviewing the role of the Ferries as a strategic asset to the whole Liverpool region.

"Beside their obvious attraction to visitors, more than 100,000 commuter journeys connect Wirral and Liverpool each year.

"The ferry service plays an important role in Wirral's regeneration and economic development – both for Seacombe, Egremont and New Brighton as well as the long-term development of Woodside and Hamilton Square in Birkenhead.

"I will not support moves to reduce the services offered, rather, I encourage MerseyTravel and other partners to come forward with ideas to make the ferries more attractive and sustainable for the future."

There are also plans to buy a new ferry that is 'better suited' to the needs of the leisure and event market. 

There could also be a later start time to the commuter service, allowing the ferry to be docked overnight to significantly reduce operational costs.

It is all part of a 20-year vision for the Mersey Ferries, which aims to secure their future for generations to come.

The overall strategy will be presented to Merseytravel's committee for approval when it meets on January 7. But there will be no decisions on any of the proposals outlined at that stage.

These will be presented to committee at future meetings with evidence to support each approach, so informed decisions can be taken.

Gary Evans, Merseytravel's head of customer delivery, told the Globe: "The aim of the strategy is to provide a safe and reliable ferry service.

"The current ferries were built in the 1950s and are coming up to 60 years old.

"So they need to be adapted in order to make them more suitable for cruise events. Evening cruises, for example, would be spoilt if it rained.

"We carry 480,000 passengers a year; of those, 100,000 are commuters, and it's still the most popular form of transport. But commuter usage is falling.

"Over a number of decades the market has changed from a buoyant cross-river one to leisure sailings as people choose the Mersey Tunnels or rail to 'short hop' across the water."

The public subsidy for operational costs has been cut by around £1m over the past four years, by taking The Royal Daffodil out of service and increasing leisure sailings.

But they still have to be subsidised by around £1.5m for day-to-day costs.

In addition, just under £2.5m a year of public money has been spent on capital programmes over the past six years including investment in maintaining the current vessels and a new Pier Head Landing Stage in Liverpool.

These costs are despite them being the most popular paid for attraction on Merseyside.

Gary Evans, Merseytravel's head of customer delivery, continued: "Should members approve the strategy, there will be some exciting decisions for them to take and some difficult ones.

"However, to secure the Mersey Ferries for future generations to enjoy we have to think big and differently.

"As with every long-term strategy it would constantly be reviewed."