Council motion urges end to Ardrossan harbourwork delays

It follows the delay to the Ardrossan harbour redevelopment work - which will allow the new ferry Glen Sannox to operate out of the port - due to rising costs.

The redevelopment will see the new Arran ferry Glen Sannox operate out of Troon harbour for the duration of the work.

And many have expressed fears that the rising costs and a longer spell operating out of South Ayrshire could seen Troon retain the vital service for good.

This week, North Ayrshire Council will debate a motion proposed by Ardrossan's SNP councillor Tonmy Gurney urging the First Minister and Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop to reaffirm Ardrossan as the main ferry terminal to Arran - and end the delays to the harbour's redevelopment.

A motion by the SNP's Ardrossan councillor Tony Gurney to this Wednesday's full meeting of North Ayrshire Council calls for action following the decision to "pause" the start of the harbour work because of rising costs.

However, MSP Mr Gibson told the Herald: "On August 23, Patricia Gibson MP and I met the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee with First Minister Humza Yousaf MSP in Brodick.

“The First Minister was asked directly if he remained ‘absolutely committed’ to ensuring that Ardrossan will continue to be the Ayrshire port of choice serving Brodick, to which he unequivocally replied ‘yes, or Kenneth and Patricia will give me what for!"

The last update on the long-delayed harbour project forecast that work would not be completed until at least 2026 - and the implications of this announcement on an expected completion date are not yet known.

Transport Minister Ms Hyslop said last month: "There will be no final decision on investment until the outcome of the business case review is reported to the Task Force, expected around November 2023."

The Glen Sannox, after years of delay, is now expected to start on the Arran route in spring 2024.

With the Ardrossan harbour delays, that could mean the Arran ferry could be sailing in and out of Troon for three years or more.

That has led to fears it could be a permanent move - leaving islanders with a much longer journey and potentially devastating Ardrossan's already shaky economy.

Now, if Councillor Gurney's motion is passed, a letter will be sent to the Transport Minister calling on her to "publicly re­affirm the choice of the Ardrossan to Arran route and to urge her to proceed with the project as quickly as possible."

The motion to Wednesday's full council meeting states: 

“Council notes with disappointment the decision of the board of Transport Scotland to revisit the business case for the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.

"Council also notes:

"That Ardrossan provides the shortest, most economical, and greenest ferry route for Arran residents.

"That Ardrossan is the only port with adequate public transport links to service the ferry.

"That any change to the route would result in longer crossing times, the concomitant reduction in the number of services and the subsequent reduction in the Arran service.

"The multi­million pound investment already committed by North Ayrshire Council to the project and more widely in Ardrossan.

"That these, and other factors, have already been accepted by all parties as the core framework for continuing the Ardrossan to Arran ferry service.

"That Ardrossan Harbour is a key component of Peel Ports’ infrastructure. Council acknowledges the increase in building costs associated with this and other projects but does not accept that this constitutes grounds for changing the core decision. Taking into account this context the council instructs the chief executive to write to:

"The Transport Minister to ask her to publicly re­affirm the choice of the Ardrossan to Arran route and to urge her to proceed with the project as quickly as possible.

"The board of Transport Scotland in the same terms.

"The chief executive of Peel Ports to ask the organisation to invest in the project to a level commensurate with its importance.

"The First Minister to remind him of his previous commitment to the project and to ask him to consider reversing the privatisation of Peel Ports' Scottish assets."

A Scottish Government spokesperson would not comment directly on the motion, but told the Herald: "The Minister for Transport has met with the main funding partners of the Ardrossan harbour re-development project and also with the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee (IoAFC) about the procurement pause.

“The business case will be developed in collaboration with project partners, NAC and PPG as well as the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee as members of the project working group.

“There will be no final decision on investment until the outcome of the business case review is reported to the Ardrossan Harbour Task Force, which is expected later this year.

“The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future and we will continue to engage closely with the community throughout this process.”