COUNCIL chiefs and port owners have drawn-up a multi-million pound upgrade plan which could safeguard the future of a popular local ferry route.

North Ayrshire Council has begun talks with Ardrossan Harbour owner Peel Ports to ensure the town’s ferry link to the island of Arran is retained.

The survival of the service was put in doubt earlier this year when the owners of Troon harbour made an unexpected bid to lure it away from its traditional home at Ardrossan, in return for making an investment of £8 million in the port.

Now high-level proposals have been revealed by North Ayrshire’s Economic Development and Regeneration Board as it aims to save the link as the “shortest, fastest and cheapest” route to Arran.

The proposals would see Peel Ports invest in significant infrastructure upgrades at the site, including improvements allowing ferries to navigate more easily, as well as the harbour walls, bollards and signs.

Meanwhile, North Ayrshire Council would complement Peel Ports’ investment with improvements to the passenger terminal, roads, car park, and connections with the town centre.

The improvements to passenger and berthing facilities at Ardrossan would be put in place in time for the arrival of the new generation of ferries being introduced by Calmac in 2018.

Doug Coleman, Peel Ports’ project director for the regeneration of Ardrossan Harbour, said: “We are committed to a multi- million pound investment in the marine infrastructure at Ardrossan to improve connections with Arran via the shortest, fastest and cheapest route.These will be bespoke facilities and modern infrastructure specifically designed for the new £48.5m ferry, which will itself dramatically improve docking reliability in poor weather.

“Together with the people and businesses of Arran who depend on this lifeline service, our partners at North Ayrshire Council, politicians of all parties and the local mainland communities, we are determined to ensure that a modern, reliable ferry service is maintained between Arran and Ardrossan for decades to come.”

Business is booming on the route, with more than 800,000 people taking one of the 5,000 return crossings between Ardrossan and Brodick on Arran last year.

Peel Ports and North Ayrshire Council say they will now put the plans to the public before presenting them to Transport Minister Humza Yousaf, who has the final say, before Christmas.

The money required to upgrade Ardrossan Harbour will come from from Peel Ports, with funding for the council’s improvement plan already earmarked from an existing regeneration scheme.

Joe Cullinane, leader of North Ayrshire Council, said: “These proposals add real strength to the already compelling case for retaining the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry route and begin to flesh out our ambitious plans for Ardrossan, Arran and the wider area.

“We are acutely conscious of the need to spend public money wisely, so I’m very happy to confirm that the investment from the council.”