TRAMS in Cleveleys and Fleetwood could be a thing of the past if a row between Blackpool and Wyre Borough Councils is not resolved. Three years ago Blackpool Council realised essential repairs were needed to the electrical infrastructure of the tramways and for the first time asked Wyre Borough Council to contribute to the costs.

Blackpool want Wyre to pay for 50 per cent of all the electrical infrastructure under the council's jurisdiction with Lancashire County Council paying for the other half.

Originally Wyre offered to pay for a quarter of the cost from Thornton Gate to Fleetwood and have now offered to pay a quarter of the costs for the whole borough and want Blackpool to pay the other 25 per cent.

If the two sides continue to be unable to make a suitable agreement the future of the tramway between Fleetwood and Thornton Gate could be in doubt.

Wyre's deputy chief executive Brian Rowe said: "The tramway system belongs to Blackpool and has done for the past 100 years. They remain responsible for its maintenance and upkeep.

"We think our offer, which adds up to more than £500,000 over the next 20 years, is very generous given that we have never contributed to the cost before and receive no profit from them.

"We sincerely hope a situation does not arise where trams do not run up to Fleetwood."

Chief executive of Blackpool Borough Council, Graham Essex-Crosby, said: "Blackpool's taxpayers are already paying a considerable amount for the tramways in Wyre and I believe there is a certain injustice in that.

"I hope the two councils can come to some agreement so that trams can continue to run to Fleetwood."

Blackpool has produced figures which show there are no overall profits from running the tramway and will therefore not agree to giving Wyre a percentage of the profits.

Blackpool's policy committee was due to discuss the issue at their meeting last night (March 13).

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