The Green candidate in the forthcoming Arran by-election has said if he wins, he'll push for Ardrossan harbour to be taken back into public hands.

Neil Wilkinson said the vital harbour, currently owned by Peel Ports, should be nationalised to protect it from falling into further disarray.

Mr Wilkinson said communities on Arran and on the mainland deserve a reliable crossing at Ardrossan - saying the harbour’s facilities must be modernised.

CalMac services to and from Arran have been badly affected by the emergency closure of a berth at Ardrossan this year after safety inspections.

A petition, published last year at the Scottish Parliament, calls for the Scottish Government to revoke Peel Ports status as the Harbour Authority.

The calls follow the announcement of a proposed compensation scheme for islanders following years of ferry chaos engulfing the island.

As part of this proposed scheme, the Green candidate has said Arran residents should have free ferry travel for two years, as compensation for the years of poor ferry service. A quota would also be introduced to prioritise the travel of islanders.

Mr Wilkinson said: “Leaving the running of this vital piece of infrastructure to a private company which has continually under-invested in it is entirely unacceptable.

"Any politician who cares about our community should back calls for Ardrossan Harbour to be in public hands.

“As Arran’s housing officer, I have spent nearly 15 years putting the rights of islanders first. As your Green councillor I would continue to work in your interests, and that includes pushing for Ardrossan Harbour to be nationalised.

“Along with a compensation scheme for the chaos and harm caused by an unreliable ferry service, this would go a long way to reversing the damage we’ve seen caused to our island and preventing further distress to islanders who should not have to pay the price.”

Taking Ardrossan Harbour into public ownership has already been backed by Labour MSP Katy Clark and former North Ayrshire & Arran SNP MP Patricia Gibson.

Mr Wilkinson is one of six candidates standing for the North Ayrshire Council seat, following the resignation of Arran Conservative Councillor Timothy Billings. The election will be held on September 12.

The candidates are: Charles Currie, Scottish Labour Party. James Andrew McMaster, Independent, Mackenzie Smith, Scottish Conservative and Unionist, Matt Taylor, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Carole Thomson, Reform UK and Neil Alexander Wilkinson, Scottish Greens.

A spokesperson for Peel Ports said: “We’re disappointed by these misplaced and unhelpful comments.

"Our position on the redevelopment of Ardrossan is well documented, and we stand firmly behind that commitment to invest millions into the port.”