Last week, I used a parliamentary question to call for an unequivocal long term commitment from the Scottish Government that Ardrossan will retain the CalMac ferry service to Brodick.
In her answer, Fiona Hyslop, the Transport Secretary, repeatedly failed to provide that assurance, reiterating the Scottish Government’s commitment to the “service” and to ensuring it’s “fit for the future”, but failing to reference Ardrossan Harbour.
I don’t wish to scaremonger about the future of the service. Along with the vast majority of islanders, ferry users and the workforce, and indeed North Ayrshire Council, I fully support its retention.
But that’s why I was troubled by the response I received, particularly as it came after her colleague Mairi McAllan said “no decision” was taken on whether the new vessels for the route, still to be completed by Ferguson Marine, would sail from here.
It's now more than seven years, and seven transport ministers, since Ardrossan won the campaign to keep the ferry service to Arran.
Backed by communities, businesses and trade unions, the Labour-run North Ayrshire administration of the time ran a successful ‘Keep it A to B – Save Our Ferry’ campaign.
The reasons for keeping it here, rather than permanently relocating it to Troon, were clear: it’s quicker and more cost effective; it facilitates more daily journeys than is possible further south; and it’s better placed for supply chains and those travelling from the central belt.
Given the levels of poverty and deprivation in the Three Towns and the devastating impact the loss of the port would have on Ardrossan, retaining the service is vital for the economic wellbeing of North Ayrshire.
When we won that campaign, it was also clear we urgently needed to redevelop the harbour and ensure marine infrastructure was in place to service the route in the long term.
Since then, there’s not been a single shovel in the ground.
The reasons are well established. Peel Ports, the intractable private owner and harbour authority, took several years to agree realistic grant terms.
One of my first motions in the Scottish Parliament when I was elected three years ago was to call on the Scottish Government to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership.
Not only did this make sense as it would accelerate progress – it would also have been recognition that, like other ports, it should be publicly owned and recognised as a national asset, given their strategic significance as recognised in most other parts of the world.
The motion was ignored.
Grant terms were eventually agreed last year, but inflated costs saw the project paused, pending a new business case.
I’m encouraged to hear key reports, including one on the socio-economic impact on Ardrossan, are to be presented shortly. I hope these bolster the case to keep the service here.
If it is to stay in Ardrossan, I’ll be demanding urgent progress to ensure relocation of the service to Troon is as temporary as possible.
If it isn’t, I’ll be joining with the local community and taking all necessary steps to demand its reinstatement.
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