Enquiry required

Sir,

In the context of arguably the worst handled disruption of the Brodick/Ardrossan service in recent times, I would go further than your excellent correspondents Neil Arthur, Elaine Duncan, councillor Alex Gallagher and your own editorial. I would suggest that the chief officer of CalMac should ‘consider his position’.

Every transport company in the land in the last 18 months must have experienced Covid among staff, yet I’m not aware of services being withdrawn without notice as was the case with the service to Brodick on Sunday October 10.

There was a lack of senior management to deal with an unsurprising situation. Are they all off at weekends? Where was the contingency plan?

The members of CalMac staff who went to Claonaig to try to sort the debacle there should be thanked, but to send off the number of vehicles that were advised to travel 130 miles, part way on a single track road, to a port with no facilities for a ferry too small to cope was a decision that must be questioned in an enquiry - and there should be an enquiry. Official apologies are wearing thin. Company protocol was put before passenger service and Arran’s reputation as a holiday destination was further damaged.

I join Neil Arthur in acknowledging the tireless work of the secretary of the Arran Ferry Committee. On occasions such as occurred that Sunday, he spent the entire afternoon and evening trying to contact responsible CalMac personnel.

Yours,

Margie Currie, Blackwaterfoot.