A 20 year vision for the world famous Mersey Ferries that could see one of the Wirral terminals permanently closed was today backed by operators Merseytravel.

Against a background of a petition and protests, Merseytravel members agreed to look at the possibility of keeping all three terminals – at the Pier Head, Seacombe and the one most at risk of closure, Woodside.

But the overall strategy, centred around bringing down the cost of the Mersey Ferries to the public purse while building on their commercial potential, was approved.

This could see both a reduction in the number of terminals and a later start to the commuter service, allowing the ferry to be docked overnight to significantly reduce operational costs.

The strategy suggests a focus on growing the local leisure and event market, with the procurement of at least one new vessel better suited to those needs.

But Merseyside Civic Society chairman and transport expert Dr Peter Brown condemned proposals that would see the closure of a Wirral terminal as “managed decline” and urged a more positive vision for tourism and transport.

In a last minute plea to Merseytravel chair Liam Robinson, Dr Brown called for a more ambitious approach to the way the Mersey is used.

Dr Brown said while the society recognised the need to address financial issues, the proposals lacked ambition and a commitment to the improvement of transport across Merseyside.

“The overwhelming impression gained from the report is that there is a tacit acceptance of the process of managed decline rather than pressing for growth in the market for and use of waterborne modes of transport that complement conventional bus and rail services,” he said.

“But we fundamentally disagree with the idea of reducing the number of terminals served from three to just two. The world famous attractions of the waterfront and historic links to and from the Wirral need to be exploited – and not mothballed.”

Instead Dr Brown launched the civic society’s own vision for the ferries. It includes long-term expansion plans for river-based traffic, with links by ferry or hovercraft to North Wales, Crosby, New Brighton, Rock Ferry, Cressington/Garston, cruise liner terminals and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

“We note that the cruise liners represent an important part of the river’s revival. Further encouragement should be given to the way in which growing numbers of cruise liner visitors can access, explore and appreciate the area’s river/waterfront attractions – from the water, on board ferries and other craft,” said Dr Brown.

“Surely we should be advocating a strategy for long-term expansion that takes fuller advantage of the potential that the river offers – an advantage that other competing cities, such as Manchester, can only look upon with envy.

“Future users of the Walrus Card should be able to look forward to the concession that is granted to Oyster Card holders in London who are entitled to a discount when using the catamaran and other services that exploit the capital’s equivalent of the Mersey,” he added.

Merseytravel stressed that at this stage the committee has not taken any decisions on individual elements outlined in the strategy.

While the public subsidy for operational costs of the ferry has been reduced by around £1m over the past four years,  the ferries still have to be subsidised by around £1.5m a year for day-to-day costs.

A Merseytravel spokeswoman said: “The strategy recognises that fundamental changes are needed to tackle increasing costs and the challenges that come with an aging fleet – now approaching 60 years old – and to go some way to reversing the trend of falling passenger numbers.”

It is intended that the strategy will be reviewed every two or three years to ensure it remains current and takes into accounts developments and potential opportunities in the wider Liverpool City Region such as Wirral and Liverpool Waters.

Cllr Robinson said: “The Mersey Ferries are an iconic symbol of our City Region and it is right and proper that we, as their passionate guardians, take a long term view of what we need to do to keep them on the water for all to enjoy for generations to come. 

“We have to balance the need for efficiency to the public purse with their wider economic potential. This is what people would expect of us.

“Approving the strategy now means we have a framework that sets out the decisions that we will need to take. We are clear that we want all the relevant evidence and detail to take those decisions. We will also take into account views and feedback received. 

“This is already reflected in the additional recommendation, put forward and approved by members, to request officers to look into options to maintain a three terminal service.

“The potential for new vessels purpose built for a leisure market and more frequent sight-seeing sailings in summer months would take the ferries in a new sustainable direction. 

“What we definitely can’t do is live in the past; the Mersey Ferries market has changed dramatically from their ‘short hop’ hey day in the first part of the 20th century to the leisure market that really took over from the 1980s as other cross-river transport options gained in popularity.”