A WIRRAL company has won the support of the Department for Transport to re-launch a hovercraft service that was last seen in the 1960s.

Hoverlink (NW) believes the service could take 200,000 visitors to and from destinations including Wirral, North Wales, Blackpool, Southport and Liverpool each year and is expected to be operational from 2015.

The scheme, supported by Wirral Council's regeneration department, will run from New Brighton's lifeboat station's launch stage.

The enterprise will cost around £1m to set up and could create 100 permanent jobs.


The business and tourism service will feature a route to Liverpool John Lennon Airport – the world’s only airport hovercraft shuttle.

Hoverlink representatives presented their proposals to Under Secretary for Transport Robert Goodwill MP at Westminster on Wednesday.

Other politicians attending the briefing included Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside and chair of the Transport Select Committee, Wirral West MP Esther McVey, Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane and Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard.

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Could be good fun if it does start up again.

Lets do some maths
100 permanent jobs at say average 20K that's £2million divide by number of expected passengers equals minimum of £10 per traveller. Then you have the costs of set up, maintenance fuel etc etc. IMO Would need to generate income from other avenues to be viable.

Logistics of parking for so many travellers at New Brighton--agh that's why they want to charge for parking at Perch Rock !

I recall the first hovercraft service from Moreton Shore to Rhyl in the 60's. It didn't last too long. Infrastructure costs must have teetered on zero, as it landed on the beach. Did it close due to making little or no profit? What chance this new service? Mmmmmm?

1962 hovercraft. Right Pinz, it didn't last long ! It was also run by reputable companies , Furness Withy and British United Airways.

Wondering how it might compare to the 'vomit comet' (I.O.M.Seacat)

http://www.wirralhistory.net/hovercraft.html

Excellent link. Most informative. Many thanks Granny. "Vomit Comet" - your technical vocabulary knows no bounds. Brilliant description !!

Interesting idea! Look forward to hearing more of it.

You mean Wirral councillors will give permission for something that is an bit of a entrepreneurial idea, have they got rid of the cobwebs that surround them and moved an inch or are they waiting for the next 5 year plan that a million monkeys with typewriters are still trying to get one page of sense to give to them, we suggested a similar idea for the BAO70 memorial, over to the statues on Crosby beach to a site by FPR, like the BOA70 memorial, Wirral did what it usually does NOTHING, good luck to the company and I hope it works out, bound to bring lots more holiday makers to the area, that's if this gang of councillors want people to visit, but no doubt they will destroy it with high parking charges, that's what they really know about.