Editing Mersey Ferry (section)

===The MPTE takes over===
[[File:Snowdrop at irlam locks on manchester ship canal.jpg|right|thumb|''[[MV Snowdrop|Snowdrop]]'' at Irlam Locks on the [[Manchester Ship Canal]]]]
As a result of the [[Transport Act 1968]], the transport functions of both Wallasey and Birkenhead Corporations came under the control of the [[Merseytravel|Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive]] (MPTE) on 1 December 1969.<ref name="Mersey Ferries - Volume 1" />  By this time, New Brighton had declined as a tourist destination and coupled with silting problems near the landing stage, the ferry service was withdrawn in 1971, with the stage and pier subsequently demolished.

In spite of the close proximity of Wallasey and Birkenhead and their respective ferry landing stages, each corporation had used different gangway spacing on their vessels. This meant that a Wallasey ferry could not utilise both gangways at Birkenhead's terminal at Woodside, and that a Birkenhead boat would be similarly disadvantaged at Seacombe and New Brighton. The Pier Head at Liverpool was obliged to have gangways to suit both sets of ships. When the combined ferry fleet was rationalised, Seacombe Ferry landing stage required the construction of an additional gangway to cater for the Birkenhead vessels.

The 1970s economic situation in Britain saw costs escalating, with funding limited by the MPTE, which was embarking on an expensive operation to construct the [[Merseyrail]] "Liverpool Loop" extension. Compounded with the opening of the [[Kingsway Tunnel|Kingsway road tunnel]] on 28 June 1971 and a further decline in passenger numbers (only 4,000-5,000 a day), the future of the service was uncertain. It was sentimental, rather than economical grounds which resulted in the retention of the ferries, after much public protest to keep them. However, service frequency was reduced, with ferry fares being linked to bus and rail fares.<ref name="Mersey Ferries - Volume 1" /> During this period, maintenance on the ferries was limited considerably, with the ''Woodchurch'' being laid up as a salvage for parts for ''Mountwood'' and ''Overchurch''. At this time, the large brass [[Steering wheel (ship)|helm]] from ''Overchurch'' was damaged and was replaced by that from ''Woodchurch''. After the damaged helm was repaired, it was placed on ''Woodchurch''. This has remained the case, even after both vessels were extensively rebuilt.

1984 was a momentous year for the ferries and can be seen as the beginning of their rise from the slump of the 1970s. For the duration of the [[International Garden Festival]], a special ferry service was provided to [[Otterspool Promenade]]. This service was usually operated by the ''Overchurch''. The ferries also began to operate summer [[Manchester Ship Canal]] cruises, a service which had been popular for many years since the canal opened but declined somewhat in the 1960s and 1970s. Sailing ships from the [[The Tall Ships' Races|Tall Ships' Race]] visited the river in August 1984, which helped bring patronage to 250,000 over four days, a level unseen for forty years.<ref name="Mersey Ferries - Volume 1" />