PLANS to improve Troon Harbour have been agreed - but the port will still just be a back up during improvement works in Ardrossan.

A planning application lodged for improvements in Troon has been agreed to allow the vessel to dock there as an alternative to the Irish berth in Ardrossan, which will serve as the main berth, despite reports to the contrary. 

Troon Harbour owners, Associated British Ports (ABP), made an application with the Scottish Government to try and entice them to permanently move the ferry to the South Ayrshire town but this was knocked back by then Transport Minister Humza Yousaf after months of campaigning by both residents of Troon and those from Ardrossan and Arran.

Contingency planning for the Ardrossan multi-million pound harbour development project is currently being developed, with the Irish berth being used as the primary dock during the two year construction period.

In the event that the Irish berth is unavailable during the works, Troon is being considered as an alternative temporary mainland berth.

An ABP spokesperson said last month: “We are working closely with Transport Scotland and CalMac to develop ways in which we can help offer additional resilience to ferry services on the network and potentially assist during the period of construction at Ardrossan terminal.”