Terminal concerns
Sir, Now that the new terminal is open, we have a chance to experience the pluses and minuses and, without question, even at this early stage, it is clear that the latter outweigh the former.
I have an interest to declare. A colleague and I, both experienced architects, together with a highly skilled friend and many others, opposed the terminal for years on several grounds, fighting for what we saw as sensible modifications and a better deal for foot passengers. Our suggestions were ignored. As anticipated, we have ended up with a building and access system which are far too large and severely penalise pedestrians.
They disadvantage, in particular, those who are disabled or encumbered by children and baggage, especially those with urgent hospital appointments. For the former, the level of stress caused by the long walk and often pain in walking has been dramatically increased. The building is well detailed and nicely finished and the contractors and project manager are to be congratulated on delivering a complex construction to a high standard and pretty much on time – apart from the long wait for CE approval. But nothing of this scale was necessary for a small island. It has cost not far off £30 million, part of which should have been spent on improving Ardrossan, where the uncertainty whether the boat will sail or not causes an equal amount of stress. Ardrossan is the real killer in the ferry jungle.
Despite the best efforts of the CalMac staff, endlessly helpful as they are, it is going to be interesting to see what happens when traffic builds up in the summer.
The lifts, although nominally for 13 people, are too small. With a wheelchair and attendant, there is room for just three or four more people with baggage. They work smoothly, but during maintenance or breakdown, there will be no choice other than climbing the stairs or, if unable to do so, of missing the boat. The Adelte access bridge onto the boat is too narrow, with space wide enough for just one wheelchair. And, since this system is complex, having to move on three axes, what will happen when it develops a fault? Arriving passengers leaving via the down stairs are required to go outside and walk a long way to the buses, not knowing whether they are still on the stances or have already left; it is impossible to see the buses from the terminal, other than from the entrance area where there is no seating. Parking is inadequate, with just 40 spaces for general use.
There is not enough additional parking in Shore Road, especially in the season owing to RET, and it will take too long to walk from, for example, the Coop to the terminal, struggling against wind and rain. Another worry, rumour has it, is that the new Glen Sannox will have difficulty docking in Ardrossan, meaning that the present facilities will have to be altered. If this is going to take a year and the boat sails to Troon, I suppose we shall have the opportunity to assess for ourselves the decision taken a year ago to stay with Ardrossan.
Yours,
Ian Ferguson, Lamlash.