First Minister blasts Peel Ports over Ardrossan Harbour

Humza Yousaf told the Herald that Peel Ports should "put their hands in their pockets" to fix the harbour, as the wait goes on for the results of a review into the cost of major upgrades needed to allow CalMac's new Arran ferries to use the terminal.

But Peel Ports hit back at Mr Yousaf's comments - saying they have already spent £2 million on the upgrade project. 

Mr Yousaf approved the harbour upgrade six years ago this week - but Peel Ports claimed that having to deal with no fewer than six transport ministers since then had "hindered a resolution".

In an exclusive interview with Ayrshire Weekly Press, the First Minister was asked if there was a date set for the publication of the long awaited business report into the already agreed redevelopment of the terminal.

Mr Yousaf replied: "We are still working really closely with the local authority and the owners of Ardrossan harbour, Peel Ports.

"We want to see some investment in the harbour from Peel Ports.

"We have to have investment and, frankly, there's been not enough investment from the owners.

"My strong plea to them is to put money in, and the Scottish Government will seek to support that." 

MV Isle of Arran (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Yousaf approved the harbour upgrade on April 11, 2018 - almost exactly a year after the Scottish Government said Ardrossan would remain the mainland port for the Brodick ferry service, in the face of stiff competition from Troon.

He continued: "Ardrossan Harbour is so crucial to the town itself, but also the important service between Ardrossan and Arran, which is crucial to our tourist industry and the people of Arran as well.

"We will continue to work with the local authority and Peel Ports, but they really have to put their hands in their pockets. There's not been enough investment.

"We want to make sure that Ardrossan is in a good place, with a strong harbour and the important upgrades in place.

"But it means significant investment, so we have to map the business case.

Asked for his thought on whether Ardrossan Harbour should be taken into public control, he said: "I understand why the calls have been made.

"Our biggest issue is the capital budget. We have had been cut by £1.3 billion from the UK Government over the next three years.

"Ardrossan harbour is an absolute priority, but we have to see sustainability.

"There has not been the levels of investment needed, I have to say, particularly from Peel Ports. They need to get their hands in their pockets at Ardrossan."

Jim McSporran (Image: Peel Ports)

Jim McSporran, port director of Peel Ports Clydeport responded: “To date, we have invested more than £2m of our own funds to progress the project, and yet we are no further forward than we were six years ago.

"In that time, we have dealt with six transport ministers. While this is often an inevitable part of political life, the changes in leadership have themselves hindered a resolution. 

"We would be delighted to welcome the First Minister to Ardrossan to brief him fully on the matter.

“We are deeply concerned that the people served by this lifeline service are unable to plan for their future because of the lengthy delays that have affected the redevelopment to date.

"We eagerly await the conclusion of the business case review, and we are hopeful the Scottish Government will commit permanently to Ardrossan as the destination for the Arran ferry.”

Peel Ports, who took over the harbour back in 1992 when it was privatised by the Conservative government, closed Ardrossan's second berth, the 'Irish berth', earlier this year on safety grounds.

The berth had been used by the second ferry to Brodick as well as a backup for the main vessel in times of bad weather or mechanical failure.

Since then the ferry service has been repeatedly diverted to Troon during bad weather, while the second Arran ferry is operating between Troon and Brodick all summer because it can't use the only remaining Ardrossan berth.

The two new Arran ferries, MVs Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, will also be unable to use Ardrossan unless and until the upgrade is complete.

Transport Scotland asked last year for the finances of the upgrade work to be re-examined in the face of rising costs.

The results of that review were originally due to be published before Christmas but have still not been made public.

North Ayrshire's SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said: "The SNP Government has invested tens of millions of pounds in harbours and ports over the last decade, including £32 million in Brodick, which was completed in 2018.

“What makes Ardrossan different is that the Tories privatised it in 1992. The owners, Peel Ports, has failed to invest over the last three decades in their own asset, despite millions of pounds in income from harbour dues over those years.

“This led to the complete closure, without warning, of the Irish berth earlier this year.

“Peel has tried to drive a hard bargain with NAC and Scottish ministers, seeking public money to fund the bulk of redevelopment whilst they retain the enhanced asset.     

“The UK Subsidy Control Act limits what the public sector can contribute.

“In Arran on August 23 last year, and at First Minister’s Questions on December 7, the First Minister publicly committed to ensuring Ardrossan remains the Ayrshire port of choice serving Arran.

“The Ardrossan business case and cost exercise review continues to be developed with project partners and is expected to report next month to the Ardrossan Task Force members, of which I am one.

“This will enable completion and review of critical information received from partners and consideration of challenges that remain on the projects scope.

“Transport Scotland received the final structural assessment report from Peel Ports on March 15 and is working closely with NAC and the Isle of Arran Ferry committee.

“Ultimately, I am pressing for agreement, a tender and work to begin on site at the earliest possible date, for the sake of both Ardrossan, Arran and their communities.”