ANGRY protesters have staged a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament over a lack of progress in negotiations to nationalise Ardrossan Harbour.
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.
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.”
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.
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.”
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”.
