Uncharted waters for Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry connection

CONCERNS are growing for the Campbeltown to Ardrossan ferry link’s future as uncertainty increases over where the ferry will dock.

The Campbeltown and Arran ferries, both operated by CalMac, currently sail to Ardrossan, in North Ayrshire, but that could change as Associated British Ports (ABP) at Troon, in South Ayrshire, wants to take the business away from Ardrossan harbour owner, Peel Ports.

ABP has promised to invest £8 million to redevelop Troon docks if its bid is successful. ABP argues that it is a more reliable port as it believes there would be fewer ferry cancellations owing to bad weather.

Argue

Opponents of the plan, who have submitted their case to the Scottish Government, the local authority and the owner of the Ardrossan port, argue that it could cost the taxpayer £5.5 million a year for the next 30 years, which equates to around £166 million, to pay for the switch.

They believe that docking in Troon, which is a 38 per cent longer journey from Arran, will result in £75 million in higher passenger fares due to the Road Equivalent Tariff, and fewer sailings on offer.

It is also thought that CalMac, owned by the Scottish Government, could face £9 million in additional fuel costs, £15 million in additional crew costs, and £15 million in ferry servicing.

Replace

Other costs include £30 million of capital funding required to replace losses to the local economy if the business is moved to Troon.

North Ayrshire Council (NAC) leader Joe Cullinane said: ‘In addition to this burden on the public purse, the removal of the ferry would also jeopardise plans for a further £100 million worth of regeneration investment in Ardrossan, which is already one of the most deprived communities in Scotland.

‘The ferry routes to Arran and Campbeltown are the heartbeat of this town.’

NAC and Peel Ports have pledged to invest more than £15 million to upgrade Ardrossan’s ferry facilities.

NAC believes that the Ardrossan crossing is the shortest, fastest and cheapest route available. Speaking to the Courier, a North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: ‘The council strongly disagrees and refutes that Troon can offer a comparable service to the Arran and Campbeltown communities, in terms of quality, resilience, journey times or cost, and does not comply with policy and good practice to support sustainable travel choices.’

Uphill walk

Ardrossan is the preferred port by many foot passengers as the train station is a very short walk from the ferry terminal, whereas there is a mile-long uphill walk to the train station at Troon.

South Kintyre councillor Rory Colville, who, as chairman of the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee, has called for a special area meeting to debate the plans, said: ‘I remain to be convinced that this is anything other than a penny-pinching exercise by the government to avoid the cost of upgrading the Ardrossan facilities.’