Bid for second ferry at Easter refused

Arran will only have one ferry operating over the busy Easter weekend next year.

Easter is the traditional start of the holiday season on Arran and it is always an extremely busy period on the island.

But a bid to have two ferries operating for the full summer timetable, which starts on March 29, has been refused. It means that only the MV Caledonian Isles will be sailing over the Easter weekend which is on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21 next year. The second boat will not come into service until May 2.

The two-ferry service also finishes on September 30, meaning the October school break will only be served by one ferry as well, although that could still change depending on when the much-delayed MV Glen Sannox comes into service.

The Isle of Arran Ferry Committee had asked for two boats for the full summer timetable which would have covered Easter and October vacation periods. They also looked to get the Sunday service to re-instate the 8.20am departure from Brodick, without success.

The committee also requested that the Lochranza service be extended to cover the full summer season, including an earlier Sunday departure, but this was also refused.

Meanwhile, passengers face a fares rise when the new summer timetable comes into force. A return journey from Brodick to Ardrossan will increase 20p to £8 while the price of a car goes up 80p to £31.90 and a motorcycle up 40p to £16.