Port pledge a priority

So, the decision is all but made. The Arran ferry is staying in Ardrossan and now the hard work starts.

This week North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane has made a pledge to the people of Arran that the council and Ardrossan harbour owner Peel Ports will deliver in full the promised £15 million Maritime Hub – a new integrated ferry, road and rail terminal by 2018.

That is the very least the people of Arran deserve. There has been a lot of loyalty shown to Ardrossan, which everyone knows is not perfect, and that support must be shown in real investment in the harbour facilities. If the intervention of Troon in to the port debate did nothing else, it at least brought Peel Ports to the negotiating table with promises of investment.

These promises must now be turned into reality to give Arran the ferry service the islanders deserve.