Ardrossan harbour works get go ahead
As Brodick ferry terminal is officially opened ...
‘The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Arran ferry service is fit for the future’
A multi-million-pound upgrade of Ardrossan harbour was given the go ahead this week.
Major works will see the current berth realigned to make it easier for the new Arran ferry to manoeuvre in and out when she comes into service next year.
The proposed works, which have been given the green light by Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf, will also see a new linkspan installed, a new terminal building constructed and a number of other enhancements.
The Ardrossan Harbour Taskforce has now chosen its preferred design option for the harbour upgrade, which, it says, will improve the facility’s operations and resilience.
A project management team will now consider a detailed design.
The taskforce members were this week remaining tight-lipped on the project costs – believed to be somewhere around £12 million – and a timescale for the works, but the announcement had been expected, as reported in the Banner last month. If the costs are confirmed, it would be a significant improvement on the £5.6 million plan originally proposed by port owners Peel Ports.
Mr Yousaf, who was on Arran on Thursday for the opening of the new Brodick ferry terminal, said: ‘This
is excellent news and I thank all the organisations that make up the taskforce for their efforts.
‘The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that the Arran ferry service is fit for the future. These plans will help bring greater resilience and reliability to the link.
‘I look forward to continuing this collaboration with the members of the taskforce as we work together to deliver this important project.’
There has been concern, following simulation trials, that the new £48.5 million Arran ferry, the MV Glen Sannox, due to come into service next year, may struggle to get in and out of Ardrossan harbour as it is eight metres longer than the MV Caledonian Isles.
The realigned berth is expected to address this issue and be able to cope with longer vessels in the future.
North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane has welcomed the decision, which comes almost exactly one year on from the decision to retain the historic Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route.
He said: ‘This is great news and means we can now press forward with the exciting plans for the harbour.
‘Alongside our partners on the working group, we have been working hard to ensure Ardrossan harbour is of a standard which will allow it to support the lifeline ferry services and the new vessel on the Arran route for many years to come.
‘We fought a long, hard campaign to retain the Ardrossan-Brodick and the Campbeltown ferry routes, so we are delighted that we can move on to the next stage.
‘We fully expect that once the improvement works have been carried out at harbour, it can be the catalyst for the wider regeneration of the Ardrossan area.
‘This also comes on the back of last week’s positive news about the Ayrshire Growth Deal, so we are excited about the potential of these projects to completely transform Ayrshire’s economic prospects.’
Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson, who is on the taskforce, said: ‘Many island constituents have asked about the plans to develop the harbour. So, a year on from the successful campaign to retain Ardrossan as Ayrshire’s port of choice to serve Arran, I am delighted that the preferred design option, of three considered, has been agreed.
‘The harbour upgrade has been deliberated over for some months, taking into account the size of the new vessel, berthing simulations etc; and the design being taken forward is a significant improvement on the “base” design originally considered.
‘We will now look at detailing that design so that work at the harbour can begin at the earliest possible opportunity.’
The taskforce is chaired by the transport minister and made up of representatives from North Ayrshire Council, Transport Scotland, Peel Ports, CalMac, CMAL, the Arran Economic Group and Mr Gibson.