New hope for Luing Sunday car ferry

HOPE has blossomed on Luing ‘ for the first time in ages’ that the island will now ‘ very likely’ get its longed-for Sunday vehicle ferry service beyond the summer months, after an Argyll and Bute Council review.

Currently Luing’s car ferry service only runs on Sundays and weekday evenings during the 12-week summer period through June, July and August.

For the rest of the year, it is a passenger- only service running on Sundays and late on weekdays at 7.30pm and 10pm.

Cheers erupted at Luing Community Council on Tuesday November 29 in Cullipool Hall when community councillor Nicky Archibald, of the ferry users’ group, announced: ‘It looks very likely we will have the car ferry on Sundays. For the first time in ages, I am feeling optimistic.’

Ms Archibald said her hopes were raised following discussions with the ferry operator – Argyll and Bute Council – which intimated the increased costs could be met by the increase in visitors.

Earlier this autumn, Luing’s Atlantic Islands Centre Trust had also appealed to the council to increase the car ferry crossings between Cuan on Seil and Luing to bring more visitors, revenue and jobs to the island.

With no public transport on Luing, visitors must arrange lifts to Cullipool’s new £1.3 million Atlantic Islands Centre, which continues to open and host weeknight events seven days a week throughout the year.

The community hub, which supports six full-time jobs and 36 volunteers within a population of 165, touched 15,000 visitors this year, treble its pre- dictions, and trustees argued the lack of Sunday and weeknight car ferries was holding back progress.

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council told The Oban Times: ‘The council is reviewing its marine services to enable it to continue to run an efficient service with staffing and training being part of the review.

‘ We are currently in the process of recruiting additional staff and it is hoped that replacing the existing Luing passenger- only ferry with a vehicle ferry service on Sundays will be possible.

‘Plans to extend the ferry service further will depend on the outcome of our review and take into account passenger and vehicle numbers.

‘It is anticipated that any additional costs for the Luing vehicle ferry, such as fuel, would be minimal.’