THE SNP Government has said that it is considering nationalising a Scottish port.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced that she had asked officials to look at the potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour in Ayrshire.
The port requires a costly berth realignment in order to accommodate the new Glen Sannox – which entered service to Arran in January – and its sister ship Glen Rosa – which is due later this year.
Hyslop told MSPs: “I have instructed Transport Scotland and CMAL to explore a potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour. I have taken this step to ensure we make progress on finding a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost-effective way.
“Discussions and negotiations around the delivery of improvements at the port have been ongoing for some time and they have been complex. Despite our best efforts we have been unable to reach an agreeable decision on the commercial approach.
“In my view, this was leading to uncertainty that the communities of Arran and Ardrossan cannot afford. It now makes sense to broaden the search for a solution – which now includes the potential purchase by the Scottish Government.”
Commenting, SNP MSP for Cunninghame North Kenneth Gibson said: “This is great news for Ardrossan and Arran.
“Many of the issues which have plagued progress on the redevelopment project have stemmed from private ownership of the port.
“Public ownership will strip away the red tape that has been holding back redevelopment for far too long – and the Cabinet Secretary is to be congratulated for breaking the logjam.
“We still need to see these talks reach a positive outcome with the current owners Peel Ports, as well as North Ayrshire Council.
“This announcement, combined with the confirmation that money has been made available in this year’s Scottish Budget for not only the redevelopment, but the potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour will be a huge step in the right direction for the area.”
Jim McSporran, the port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “Peel Ports Group welcomes the Scottish Government’s statement that it intends to explore the potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour.
“Since being confirmed by Scottish ministers in 2017 as the preferred route to serve Arran, we have remained fully supportive of its redevelopment, spending several million to maintain the critical service and designing and securing necessary consents required for the harbour's redevelopment.
“It is important to clarify that despite repeated and incorrect reports, at no point has Peel Ports Group neither received or spent ‘millions of pounds’ of public funds to upgrade the harbour during its ownership.
“Regardless of the outcome of this process, our willingness to invest in the harbour remains steadfast. We take comfort that the port continues to operate this lifeline route and that it remains the port of choice for the people and businesses of Arran and Ardrossan.”
SNP North Ayrshire Council leader Marie Burns said: “We warmly welcome confirmation that the Scottish Government is exploring the potential purchase of Ardrossan Harbour.
“There has been understandable anxiety over the future of the facility however we have always been confident that the economic, environmental, practical and social case for retaining and improving Ardrossan Harbour was overwhelming.
“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised this uncertainty and has committed to push forward discussions at pace around the potential change of ownership at the harbour."
