Ferries must stay in Ardrossan during development works
Arran ferries must continue to go to Ardrossan during harbour development works. That was the unanimous decision of the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee this week.
It comes following persistent speculation that the Brodick ferry service could go to Troon, even for a short time, while redevelopment work is carried out at Ardrossan, including a realignment of the berth used by the Arran ferry.
The move is said to be favoured by Caledonian MacBrayne. However, the ferry committee is backing the use of the second Irish berth at Ardrossan during the works.
At Monday night’s monthly meeting of the committee, Arran MSP Kenneth Gibson raised the issue of Ardrossan Harbour’s redevelopment, which was not on the agenda, and made clear his opposition to any possibility of closing the harbour to ferries while it is being upgraded.
After all, he argued, Brodick did not close when it was being redeveloped and there are two berths at Ardrossan. Mr Gibson asked CalMac and the committee for their views.
None of the five Calmac representatives in attendance said they knew enough about the Ardrossan redevelopment to give an opinion, although they said ‘safety came first’.
However, marine manager Lee McDowall, who is a skipper, said that while safety is always the first consideration ‘the Irish berth is safe and is currently used in about eight per cent of sailings’.
Chairman Iain Thomson said: ‘The ferry committee is absolutely adamant that we must retain the Ardrossan to Brodick route while Ardrossan Harbour is being redeveloped.’
Committee members agreed unanimously that sailings to and from Ardrossan should continue during the redevelopment, with Gourock remaining as the ‘port of refuge’ in bad weather. Members added that Troon should not be considered at all, given the impact that would have on the number of sailings and thus capacity, islanders, care and other workers, businesses, visitors and the Arran and Ardrossan economies.
The ferry committee, which operates behind closed doors, has members representing groups ranging from Arran Community Council and VisitArran to Stagecoach and the National Farmers’ Union.
Mr Gibson commented: ‘I am delighted at the unanimous support for Ardrossan and the views expressed by and at the ferry committee.
‘I will take this clear position to transport minister Humza Yousaf and then to the next meeting of the Ardrossan Harbour Task Force on June 28. I am convinced that, with Mr Yousaf himself among the many preferring continued sailings from Ardrossan during redevelopment, this will now happen and I will certainly urge him to ensure that it does.’