MINISTERS have been urged to speed up talks over the future of Ardrossan Harbour with residents in the town and in Arran fearing for the future of the historic CalMac route.
For almost three months, there have been no ferries travelling between Ardrossan and Brodick as works on the MV Caledonian Isles continue, while the MV Glen Sannox has been running from Troon due to the harbour being unsuitable for CalMac’s newest vessel.
A petition started by the Save Ardrossan Harbour campaign has now attracted more than 10,000 signatures from people across North Ayrshire as well as in Arran.
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 both sides of the firth of Clyde have become concerned about the apparent silence since that announcement more than a month ago.
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.
According to campaigners trying to save the route, businesses in Ardrossan are now seeing their profits decline, people on both sides of the water are facing disruption getting to and from work, and islanders are struggling to get to medical appointments.
Fears about the future of the route have also intensified since Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced her intention to step down as an MSP next year.
The Ardrossan Harbour Project – to develop the port and make it suitable for the new vessels – was given the go-ahead in 2018 by then transport minister Humza Yousaf, but the project was paused in 2023 and a fresh business case he never emerged.
There have been several different transport ministers since then and residents are now pushing for Hyslop to ensure she goes out having ensured the harbour comes into public ownership.
Frances Gilmour, who has lived in Ardrossan almost all her life and is chair of the Save Ardrossan Harbour campaign, said while people in the town are trying to stay hopeful, there is a fear the latest announcement is “just more words”.
The Ardrossan Harbour Task Force has yet to meet since announcing a possible government buyout.
“There is still no action, there’s nothing concrete, it’s just more words,” Gilmour told The National.
“There’s an election coming up and we’re a month down the road since Fiona Hyslop talked about the possible buyout. They’ve not even met yet.
"We’re being dismissed, I feel. There is a lot of anger.
“I think the powers that be, I think they think apathy will just set in and then it’ll go away. Well, it won’t. We want answers.”
Gilmour explained how many families in Ardrossan are descended from people who built and worked at the harbour and called on Hyslop to make sure it is not abandoned.
“This port was here 200 years ago and the town grew up round about it,” she said.
“A lot of families are descended from the people who built the harbour, like mine. It’s a big thing for them to take this away from this community and to just let it go into decline.
“We have to be optimistic, but so far all we’re getting is words.
“Fiona Hyslop has mentioned she is retiring and I feel happy for her, but do something good before you leave that office."
CalMac has confirmed work on the MV Caledonian Isles (below) is progressing “on schedule” and she is due to return to service from Ardrossan by the end of April, though this is a few weeks behind a previously promised date of the end of March.
While Troon may not seem that far away, the move has opened a Pandora’s Box of problems for Ardrossan businesses and the people of Arran.
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.
“Roughly about 32% of the people on Arran are over 65 and unfortunately lots of them have to go to the mainland for medical treatment and getting from Troon to Crosshouse Hospital or Irvine Central is quite difficult via public transport,” he said.
“People with medical issues are really struggling.”
He went on: “I’d like to think they [Peel Ports] would cut their losses with Ardrossan.
“Sell it to the people of Scotland so we can do what needs to be done to it.”
Hume said he was hugely supportive of the idea of a Government buyout and called for more urgency in talks with Easter on the horizon.
“Easter is coming up and lot of the businesses on Arran rely on day trippers and are concerned people will just not fancy the long journey,” he said.
“We’re only asking for something that was promised. There have been quite a few transport ministers over the years which hasn’t helped, but we’re really hoping Fiona Hyslop will want to go out on a high and force this over the line for us.”
It is understood the task force is due to meet within weeks.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We absolutely understand people and communities’ views in favour of retaining Ardrossan as the mainland port and remain committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future.
“The Scottish Government has instructed officials at Transport Scotland and CMAL to explore options on purchasing Ardrossan Port.
“Despite the best efforts of the main funding partners, it has not been possible to reach an agreeable position on the financial aspects, risk and legal agreements related to the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.
“We will of course update Parliament once there is progress.”
Jim McSporran, port director at Peel Ports Clydeport, said: “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 harbours redevelopment.
“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.”
