£15m plan for ferry terminal at the centre of route battle
Campaigners claim support as Arran service rival criticises refurbishment
CAMPAIGNERS bidding to retain one of Scotland’s busiest ferry links have unveiled plans for a new £15 million terminal should controversial plans to relocate the service be abandoned.
New images have been released showing how the ferry, road and rail terminal at Ardrossan Harbour, in North Ayrshire, would look for the start of a £48.5 million hybrid vessel which is due to operate on the Arran route by 2018.
In addition to a new “Maritime Hub” building, it is proposed the development by harbour owners Peel Ports and the local council would provide a new “linkspan” bridge for vehicles to board the ferry, a new way for passengers to access the complex and improved car parking.
It is the latest development in a fraught, and at times farcical, battle over the future of the service to and fromBrodick.
Ardrossan is campaigning to retain the 180-year-old service amid attempts by Associated British Ports (ABP) to shift it to Troon, around 15 miles further south.
ABP recently lost a service to Northern Ireland from the affluent South Ayrshire town and has promised to invest £8m if the Arran service is transferred to the mothballed Troon port.
The Ardrossan campaigners have cited support from within the island’s communities and businesses for the shorter link and claimed it would cost the public purse almost £130m over the 30year contract were it to move.
They have also claimed their rival’s plans are not as advanced as their own and could be at least a year behind their own.
ABP, whose Troon plans were published last year and distributed on Arran, said the rival proposals were “principally cosmetic and don’t appear to include a new breakwater, the only way to address Ardrossan’s persistent reliability issues”.
It said Troon is a more reliable port and more resilient to adverse weather conditions.
It has dismissed as “fake news” claims by the Ardrossan supporters and even installed a webcam at Troon harbour to prove its weather statements.
Government agency Transport Scotland is due to make its decision within weeks, with a major new vessel operated by CalMac coming online within the year.
North Ayrshire Council leader Joe Cullinane said: “Seeing the vision of an Ardrossan of the future, brought to life in full colour like this, is really exciting.
“The redevelopment of the old passenger terminal into the vibrant welcoming space of the new Maritime Hub will not only be a welcoming environment for travellers, it will offer local businesses the space to showcase their products and will also act as a meeting place for the whole community of Ardrossan.
“What’s even better is that this development would also be the catalyst for a much bigger regeneration of the town, with a further £100m of investment planned for the wider area to deliver additional marina expan- sion, a new hotel and housing development.
Meanwhile, ABP said it had sent a team to Arran this week to field questions from the community.
A spokeswoman for the port said: “The key difference between ABP’s proposals and those from Peel is that Troon is ready shortly to be introduced on to the route. It needs no investment.”
‘‘ What’s even better is this development would also be the catalyst for a much bigger regeneration of the town, with a further £100m of investment