Latest news with #ArranforArdrossanHarbour
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Protesters take to Holyrood amid 'deadlocked' Ardrossan Harbour deal
There have been no ferries from Ardrossan to Arran – a route which has existed for nearly 200 years – since January because the newest CalMac ferry is too big to berth at the harbour and the MV Caledonian Isles, which does fit, has been out of action for 18 months. Instead, the Glen Sannox has had to travel to Brodick from Troon, which takes longer and is widely viewed as much less convenient for the people of Arran who need to get to medical appointments at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock – for which there is a direct bus route from Ardrossan. Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop announced back in February that money had been set aside to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership, but campaigners have become frustrated with a lack of movement since then. This has only been compounded by the fact the Scottish Government pledged back in 2018 to ensure Ardrossan remained the gateway to Arran. The project to upgrade the harbour was then paused in 2023 amid concern over rising costs and disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners: harbour owners Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. READ MORE: Scottish Government accused of 'sidelining' climate action Campaigners from both sides of the Firth of Clyde – who were supported by cross-party politicians - turned up in their dozens to Holyrood to say 'enough is enough', as they called for Hyslop and the Scottish Government to get directly involved in securing a deal. 'It's been going on for far too long. We've been neglected to the extreme. Businesses are closing in both areas and local communities are disgusted with what's going on,' said Margaret Roberts, from the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign. 'The most important thing is hospital appointments are having to be cancelled, important medication and appointments are being missed. 'It's not fair on the local people. North Ayrshire needs this service to be resolved now.' (Image: NQ) Chants of 'Fiona Hyslop, more hands on' and 'Ardrossan's the crossing' could be heard outside Holyrood as MSPs from Labour, the Conservatives and Greens spoke in solidarity with protesters. Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign, previously told The National a meeting with Peel Ports, CMAL and Transport Scotland had left him 'flabbergasted', as campaigners were left feeling as if the deal 'could fail'. The Ardrossan Harbour issue was raised during FMQs by Labour MSP Katy Clark and SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson. Gibson put to the First Minister that talks appear 'deadlocked', stressing if the situation is not resolved, Arran 'will not have the lifeline service it deserves' and Ardrossan 'will struggle'. He asked if the Scottish Government would 'inject urgency' into the process. (Image: NQ) Swinney said negotiations have the 'attention and focus' of ministers and CMAL and the Government is 'focused on a long-term solution for Ardrossan Harbour'. He added it remained the 'key port' for Arran. Clark asked the FM if he agreed a process of compulsory purchase needed to start if there was no progress by summer recess – the end of next week. John Swinney said he would explore compulsory purchase but it had been indicated to him the Scottish Government 'does not have the basis to do so'. 'The Government is actively engaged in the dialogue to acquire Ardrossan Harbour to enable the long-term commitment that Katy Clark seeks.' READ MORE: 300 jobs at risk as firm moves Scottish Power contract to South Africa Save Ardrossan Harbour committee member Donna Cullinane said she wants to see ministers get directly involved to speed up negotiations, with shops in Ardrossan losing business. She told The National: 'We want the deal done. We want the ministers involved, not CMAL. 'We want the harbour fixed. Why build two ferries that don't fit?' Asked about whether she was concerned for the Ardrossan economy, she added: 'I'm very worried. You can tell even now there's a lack of vehicles coming through, lack of economy, because people are not stopping at the shops. 'A lot of the shops are losing revenue. 'It needs to be done for the sake of people on Arran who are coming for medical appointments. There's a bus route from Ardrossan to Kilmarnock every 20 minutes. 'If people from Arran are coming over for an appointment, they've got to really plan it [from Troon], and it can be an overnight stay for them.' Transport Scotland has previously said to The National it is 'wholly appropriate' for CMAL to lead on negotiations on behalf of ministers. Peel Ports has said, meanwhile, there has not been enough 'pace and energy' from CMAL and Transport Scotland, while CMAL has said it has to 'deliver the best value for the public purse'.
The National
3 days ago
- The National
MV Caledonian Isles return delayed for fourth time in less than a week
The MV Caledonian Isles – which serves the Ardrossan to Brodick route – has been out of action for 18 months but was supposed to make a long-awaited return last week. But the return of the vessel has been continually pushed back over the last few days, and a specialist has now had to be brought in from Norway to assist with the investigation into the latest fault. CalMac has said the ferry will not return to service on Saturday as previously hoped and will now resume on Wednesday, June 25. READ MORE: Orkney council ends investigation into leaving UK People looking to travel to Arran will still be able to do so from Troon on the MV Glen Sannox or MV Alfred. Kongsberg, the manufacturer of the gearbox, is sending a technical specialist to the vessel who will arrive on Thursday. Trials undertaken ahead of Thursday will gather more data to help CalMac and Kongsberg diagnose and resolve the problem, CalMac said. A CalMac spokeswoman said: 'Whilst we recognise a further delay is disappointing, we have taken the decision to extend the return date into next week to provide customers and the community with certainty ahead of the weekend. "Continuing to have MV Alfred as part of the fleet means that we can honour all customer bookings, so visitors can still travel to and from Arran as planned. 'Once repaired, the vessel will need a further two days of sea trials before a full return to service. Our next update to customers and to the Arran community will be issued on Monday, June 23." The delay to the return of the Caledonian Isles has left locals in Ardrossan furious, with dozens of campaigners planning to stage a protest over the ongoing problems with both the ferry and the harbour at Holyrood on Thursday. READ MORE: Scottish oil and gas firm fined £300,000 after 'terrifying incident' In a post on Facebook earlier this week, the Save Ardrossan Harbour group said island communities had been left "stranded". "This is just the latest failure in a long line of letdowns caused by CMAL's aging fleet and chronic lack of forward planning. They've ordered ferries that don't fit key harbours and allowed the fleet to decline to a shameful state—leaving Scotland's island communities stranded, frustrated, and ignored,' it said. Members of the Save Ardrossan Harbour group and the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour campaign – which represent locals either side of the route – are due to gather at Holyrood to demand action is taken over the dilapidated harbour which has needed an upgrade for years. The MV Glen Sannox and its sister ship the MV Glen Rosa – which is due to come into service next year – are both too large to berth at Ardrossan. There have been no ferries running from Ardrossan for five months, which has left businesses in the town concerned about their future. The Scottish Government promised seven years ago that Ardrossan would remain the main gateway to Arran and pledged to fund the multi-million-pound upgrade required to accommodate the new ferries. But the project was paused in 2023 amid concern over rising costs and disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners: Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. Communities on both sides of the Firth of Clyde are keen to see Ardrossan remain the gateway to Arran given many people in the town travel to the island for work, while Arran residents have medical appointments in Ardrossan. In February, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop revealed that money had been set aside to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership. But since then, campaigners have lost faith in the progress of negotiations. Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour group, told the Sunday National he had written directly to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to ask her to intervene in the negotiations, but the Scottish Government has said it is "wholly appropriate" CMAL leads the talks on ministers' behalf.
The National
6 days ago
- Business
- The National
Kate Forbes asked to intervene in Ardrossan Harbour talks
Wyllie Hume, chair of the Arran for Ardrossan Harbour group, has written to Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes citing a 'lack of progress' in the Scottish Government's planned takeover of the port. He added Transport Scotland and Scotland's ferries agency CMAL – which is acting on behalf of Scottish ministers in the talks – had painted a 'gloomy picture' of how negotiations were going with owners Peel Ports when he met with bosses a few weeks ago. Forbes has been asked by Hume to get directly involved and 'inject a sense of urgency' into the negotiations. Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has also been called on to intervene in the talks by VisitArran chief executive Sheila Gilmore. READ MORE: MV Caledonian Isles ferry delayed due to last minute issue But Gilmore told the Sunday National she had received a response from Hyslop saying it would not be appropriate for her to get involved. An email to Forbes from Hume, seen by the Sunday National, says: 'We had a meeting recently with CMAL and Transport Scotland about the negotiations, and they painted a very gloomy picture of how things were going, blaming Peel Ports for being difficult and asking far too much. 'We would like the Deputy First Minister to get involved directly in the negotiations and inject a sense of urgency into the situation." Gilmore added: "My thoughts are that we have a bit of a 'he said' 'she said' going on between CMAL and Peel Ports, and it might be helpful to get some transparency around all this, which may only be achieved by ministerial intervention." The Arran for Ardrossan Harbour group alongside fellow campaigners from Save Ardrossan Harbour will be travelling to Holyrood this week to call for ministerial intervention. Concern is growing over the harbour's long-term future as the new MV Glen Sannox ferry and its sister ship the MV Glen Rosa – which is due to begin service next year – are too big to berth at the port. This has resulted in the Glen Sannox having to travel to Arran from Troon since January, which has added about 20 minutes onto each leg of the journey. The Glen Sannox is only about to carry out three daily return sailings to Arran from Troon compared to the five that are possible from Ardrossan. While the MV Alfred has been providing extra support when needed, its capacity is much smaller. There have been no ferries running from Ardrossan for five months. (Image: George Munro) The Caledonian Isles ferry (above) had been due to return to service last week from Ardrossan after around 18 months out of action, but last-minute problems picked up during sea trials delayed the launch until at least Tuesday, with a firm update to be provided on Monday. The Scottish Government promised seven years ago that Ardrossan would remain the main gateway to Arran and pledged to fund the multi-million-pound upgrade required to accommodate the new ferries. But the project was paused in 2023 amid concern over rising costs and disagreements over how the bill should be split between the three partners: Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government. Communities on both sides of the Firth of Clyde are keen to see Ardrossan remain the gateway to Arran given many people in the town travel to the island for work, while Arran residents have medical appointments in Ardrossan. Ardrossan Harbour also has a train station offering easy access to Glasgow, while the railway station in Troon is around a 20-minute walk away from the port. People can board a shuttle to Troon station, but with only three daily return sailings, the logistics of spending a day in Glasgow from Troon are much trickier. In February, Transport Secretary Hyslop revealed that money had been set aside to take Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership. But since then, campaigners have lost faith in the progress of negotiations since a meeting with CMAL, Transport Scotland, Peel Ports and CalMac. READ MORE: Scottish Borders wind farm plan 'to push out recovering golden eagles' Hume said the meeting left him 'flabbergasted'. 'All of us came out of that meeting thinking this could fail,' he said. 'There was no commitment in that meeting. Duncan Mackison [CEO of CalMac] listened to us quite sympathetically and he came across as someone who is committed to Ardrossan Harbour. 'But the others, they just laid on doom and gloom about how bad the negotiations were going. It was quite bizarre. 'I'm still a bit flabbergasted by it.' He went on: 'They've got to get the deal done. It started in February, and although we accept there's a lot of detail to go through, we're into June now. 'The main thing is we don't think they can leave this to Peel Ports and CMAL. They're not connecting with each other.' Frances Gilmour, chair of Save Ardrossan Harbour, said the town had been 'badly let down' by all parties. The Glen Sannox has been sailing from Troon to Brodick (Image: PA) She told the Sunday National: 'People will go to Arran from Troon on the nice ferry and that's wonderful if you're a tourist, but the whole picture is not being seen. 'The strength of feeling from the people who go to the island for work and to see family, it is clear this is the route that needs to be sustained. 'The powers that be have let us down badly. They are putting a sticking plaster on it by giving us the Caledonian Isles back for as long as she lasts, which might not be long. 'I don't have much confidence [in the talks]. It just seems to be a stalemate.' READ MORE: Robert Burns-linked estate to be turned into whisky distillery Asked what her message would be to those involved in the negotiations, she said: 'Get moving, and stop blaming each other.' Peel Ports has said there has not been enough 'pace and energy' from CMAL and Transport Scotland, while CMAL has said it has to 'deliver the best value for the public purse'. A spokesperson for CMAL said: "We do not own Ardrossan Harbour, so we cannot make plans for its future. We are in the middle of a commercial negotiation process to buy the harbour from Peel Ports, which limits the amount of detail that can be shared. We are fully committed to maintaining a robust and resilient ferry service for the Isle of Arran, and no option is off the table. However, we must also ensure we deliver the best value for the public purse." A Peel Ports spokesperson said: 'The ongoing cancellations, delays, and uncertainty are devastating for the people and businesses of Arran and Ardrossan. We've entered negotiations in good faith, working with pace and energy to a timetable we believed was achievable. Unfortunately, that pace and energy hasn't been matched by those at the negotiating table. We appreciate that the buyers have other ferry issues to contend with but reaching a swift conclusion will require them to give this negotiation a higher priority.' A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: 'It is wholly appropriate that CMAL leads on the Ardrossan negotiations. Should ownership transfer be successful, CMAL would be the asset owner and responsible for taking forward any development works at Ardrossan. 'As owners of 26 ports and harbours across Scotland, they also bring essential experience to these complex discussions. 'We will of course update Parliament and the local community once there is progress and an outcome to report, however, CMAL and Peel Ports need time and space to undertake and conclude negotiations.'
