We’re keeping the Arran boat.. and we’re ferry happy
A PORT has won its battle to keep the lucrative Arran ferry route.
Ministers have decided the ferry will continue to sail from Ardrossan in Ayrshire. Local politicians called it “tremendous news”.
Ardrossan had been under threat of losing the ferry to Troon after the Scottish Government commissioned a study on the issue.
Yesterday, a Government spokesman confirmed: “The ferry service linking Arran with the mainland will continue to berth at Ardrossan harbour.
“The study looked at the two available options objectively, taking into account a broad range of factors including the impact on users in terms of travel time, fares and connectivity, reliability and the costs to the public purse.”
North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “People throughout North Ayrshire will be relieved and delighted the minister has reached the right decision.”
He praised a local campaign against what he called “a very real threat to the economic wellbeing of North Ayrshire” and thanked people on Arran who supported it.
Ardrossan harbour’s owners will now make major improvements to their facilities. And the council have vowed to upgrade the passenger terminal, roads, car park and links to the town centre.
The operators of Troon harbour had claimed that Ardrossan frequently couldn’t cope with bad weather and a significant number of ferries were cancelled as a result.
They promised to spend £8million on a new passenger terminal if they got the Arran service.