Ferry questions for Scottish Parliament candidates

An open letter from Arran Ferry Action Group to prospective candidates standing in the Cunninghame North ward and the West Scotland regional seat.

Sir,

We, the Arran Ferry Action Group, representing the majority of households on Arran, have more than 1,300 supporters. Committed to the improvement of our lifeline ferry service, we are disappointed and angry at the serious deterioration of our ferry service in the last few years.

The ageing fleet of ferries serving Arran and the continuing delay of the provision of the MV Glen Sannox, which was due to become operational in 2018, have caused serious harm to Arran residents and business owners.

The current vessels, due to their age, regularly break down and sometimes require extensive repairs.

Residents requiring medical treatment/care on the mainland have been unable to receive this

often lifesaving care due to regular disruptions of the ferry service. Business owners have been unable to obtain necessary equipment and workers in a timely fashion.

Many residents, frustrated by the situation, have decided to leave the island.

Furthermore, the recently built ferry terminal at Brodick has been found to be improperly aligned, thereby causing additional disruption of ferry services.

This expensive terminal has proved to be difficult for elderly and mobility challenged residents and visitors as a result of the long, narrow walkway and the many steps to and from the ferry terminal. Two small elevators are totally inadequate.

While residents had strongly requested an escalator or other form of easier access to the ferry, their request was ignored.

Many ferry users have fallen down the steps, resulting in injuries.

These issues have been widely publicised in the media and are well known to Scottish taxpayers and ferry users.

The recently published report of the parliamentary Rural and Economic Committee (RECC) has highlighted the poor quality of decision making by government officials and government bodies.

As a candidate for office in the May elections for the Scottish parliament, we are requesting your answers to the following questions:

■ What do you propose to do to ensure Arran residents and visitors have a reliable and resilient ferry service?

■ We have been informed the Glen Sannox ferry may not be in operation until 2023. Furthermore, it is not clear when the Ardrossan Harbour development will begin with some suggestions it will not be completed until 2024.

Many people are urging that during the next several years the government should provide an alternative reliable ferry which would include the rental or purchase of a smaller boat or catamaran. Would you support such a proposal?

■ The multi-MSP RECC produced a 2021 report into the ‘catastrophic failure’ of the Ferguson Scottish ferry build project. Do you agree with the recommendations of that RECC ferry report?

■ Arran ferry users have been unable to obtain reliable information regarding timetables for the Glen Sannox and the Ardrossan Harbour development.

There have been no community consultations since 2018 and our voices have not been heard.

How do you propose to compel government representatives to consult with ferry users and take into consideration their requests?

Yours,

For and on behalf of the Arran Ferry Action Group committee.