TRAVELLERS to Arran will face a “fares tsunami” if a traditional ferry route is scrapped, it has been claimed.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf yesterday announced a major new study to decide where ships to and from the island should dock on the mainland.
Ferries from Brodick on Arran have berthed at Ardrossan since the 1800s but a rival bid has been made for the service from Troon’s under-used harbour, which recently lost its sailings to Northern Ireland.
Read more: Ministry of Defence announcement on Clyde expected today
Now the owners of Ardrossan terminal, Peel Ports, have launched a scathing attack on Troon’s proposal, which comes with an offer of millions in investment and disputed claims of better reliability.
Doug Coleman, project director of Peel Ports said: “Ardrossan to Brodick is unarguably the shortest and fastest route, but it’s also the cheapest.
“Local people would be facing a ‘fares tsunami’ which puts into sharp relief the £50,000 sweetener floated by ABP in an attempt to persuade some locals.
“The impact on people’s pockets will be dramatic, and at a time when thousands more visitors are being welcomed to Arran, in part because of the lower ferry fares.”
Read more: Ministry of Defence announcement on Clyde expected today
Mr Coleman estimated the extra costs from Troon would be £299 a year for foot passengers who use the service five days a week. He said they would also face longer journeys at sea and on land. The executive also argued that a car and a driver would have to fork out an extra £1,674.40.
Andrew Harston, ABP director, countered: “These sort of numbers appear to be part of a scare campaign to draw attention away from the obvious advantages of Troon. This is all about getting a better deal for the people of Arran and the Government. We welcome the announcement from the Government that an independent study will be carried out.”
The row on fares came as politicians and others in South Ayrshire backed their bid with the local newspaper describing a new route to Troon as a “goldmine” and later claiming Ardrossan needed £30 million in investment.
Mr Coleman said: “Local people deserve far better than anonymous and outlandish comments like those. We should be dealing in facts rather than ‘madey-uppy’ nonsense.”
Read more: Ministry of Defence announcement on Clyde expected today
Politicians in rival North Ayrshire, which includes Arran, have put aside party differences to support Ardrossan and, they said, the island’s economy.
The new Labour leader of the local authority is to put a motion before a meeting of the full council next week, which is expected to be backed by the SNP councillor he replaced in the post earlier this autumn.
Transport Scotland will report back to Mr Yousaf on the best route by the spring.
Mr Yousaf said: “We have already made significant investments in the Arran ferry route, with a new vessel on the way as well as a major upgrade of Brodick Harbour. We now want to look at all the options available on the mainland to make sure we maximise the potential of the route.
“This study will look at potential work to improve Ardrossan Harbour, as well as the proposal from Associated British Ports to use an upgraded facility at Troon.”
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