CAMPAIGNERS are set to board CalMac's newest ferry to host a protest at Troon Harbour in a bid to save the historic route between Ardrossan and Brodick.
Supporters of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign are being urged to gather at Brodick pier on Saturday, April 12, for a "protest sail". Campaigners will board the MV Glen Sannox as it travels over to Troon before holding a demo.
The ferry, which set out on its inaugural voyage in January, is only able to sail between Brodick and Troon at present because it is too big to berth at Ardrossan Harbour.
The Ardrossan Harbour Project – to develop the port and make it suitable for the new vessels – was given the go-ahead way back in 2018 by then transport minister Humza Yousaf, but the project was paused in 2023 and a fresh business case has never emerged.
With Ardrossan to Brodick having been an established ferry route for hundreds of years, the change has opened up a Pandora’s Box of issues for residents and businesses on both sides of the Firth of Clyde.
The situation has been made even worse since January with the ageing MV Caledonian Isles having extensive repairs made to it, meaning there have not been any ferries coming in and out of Ardrossan for three months.
It was expected the Caledonian Isles would return to service by the end of April but CalMac has now said it will be before the end of May, adding it was confident this would be the "final delay".
A petition to save Ardrossan Harbour has hit more than 10,000 signatures.
It was confirmed last month talks with harbour owner Peel Ports regarding a possible buyout by the Scottish Government are now underway after years of stalling, but residents have become concerned about the apparent silence since that announcement nearly two months ago.
The Ardrossan Harbour Task Force has yet to meet since announcing a possible government buyout.
Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign, wants to get as many people onto the Glen Sannox as possible to drive home the argument Ardrossan Harbour must be redeveloped to ensure the historic route is not abandoned.
Hume said: “The present arrangement of using Troon Harbour is causing disruption and inconvenience to the lives of many islanders."
“Residents are struggling to attend important medical and dental appointments. Young people are finding it increasingly difficult to attend extra - curricular activities on the mainland and return the same day.
“In some cases , this is limiting their opportunities for career development. The uncertainty is also detrimental to local businesses still recovering from the pandemic. “We have waited eight years and counting for an acceptable outcome. All we have had so far is words, we desperately need action.
“We demand that Transport Scotland keeps its promise to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour to allow the new ferries to use it, thus providing a reliable ferry service that will serve Arran well for decades to come.”
There are fears Ardrossan could suffer a similar fate to Stranraer, which in 2011 lost the ferry to Northern Ireland after more than 150 years. The local economy quickly took a significant downturn after Stena Line moved up the coast to Cairnryan.
The Glen Sannox is currently alternating with the MV Alfred for sailings to and from Troon.
The ferry to and from Troon takes about 20 minutes longer than the journey to and from Ardrossan, so there are fewer return sailings from there than there were from Ardrossan.
When foot passengers get to Troon, the train station is a good 20 to 25 minute walk from the ferry port so, combined with fewer sailings, it is practically impossible for them to take a day trip to Glasgow – something which is fairly simple from Ardrossan, which has a train station right at the harbour.
People on Arran are also having difficulties getting to medical appointments at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, which is easily reachable by bus from Ardrossan but much more challenging to get to from Troon.
Those interested in taking part in the demonstration should meeting at Brodick pier on Saturday, April 12, at 1pm.
The ferry will arrive into Troon at 2.15pm where participants will get off for a short demonstration at the harbour, before the Glen Sannox makes her way back to Brodick at 3.10pm.
