More than 20,000 locals are calling for an axed historic ferry route to be reinstated after businesses lost “hundreds of pounds” when it was scrapped.
The 1,000-year-old port town of Ardrossan, in south-western Scotland, has relied on ferry connections to the isle of Arran for about 200 years.
The service, operated by the CalMac ferries agency, has been a reliable source of commerce and tourism for decades – until new, heftier vessels exceeded the town’s harbour capacity, forcing them to dock 16 miles along the coast in the town of Troon instead.
Since the first rerouted journey set sail on January 13, desperate Ardrossan residents have launched a campaign to redevelop their harbour so it can once again welcome the hundreds of passengers who represent a crucial bulk of the seaside town’s annual trade.
“It’s been disastrous,” Molly Murray, 37, who co-owns the town’s Seahorse Bookstore, told The Scottish Sun. “Thousands of people depend on the ferry.”
Dora Kane, 34, who runs Ardrossan’s laundry service, Sylvia’s Soapy Suds, said she has lost between £300 and £400 a week since the ferry moved up the coast.
A paper petition organised by the Save Ardrossan Harbour group has gathered about 20,000 signatures. An online version has over 3,000.
It implores the Scottish Government to “urgently” refurbish the town’s harbour to accommodate the new vessels, describing the ferry service as a “lifeline” and “the busiest passenger route in Scotland”.
Supporters of the campaign also blasted the “huge economic impact” on Ardrossan. One resident also suggested that Arran residents were “being denied easy access to mainland services such as dentist, optician and hospital appointments”.
Another criticised the “shameful” relocation of the ferry’s docking base to the “more affluent area” of Troon, which is home to some of Ayrshire’s most expensive properties and is a popular commuter town for those working in Glasgow.
They added that the service was “vital to the local economy”, with many businesses “heavily reliant” on both tourists and regular visitors from Arran.
The Scottish Government said it was “exploring the potential purchase of the harbour”.
On Wednesday, the SNP’s Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said she was committed to finding a “cost-effective solution” to the problem.
“Despite our best efforts, we have been unable to reach an agreeable decision on the commercial approach,” said Ms Hyslop.
“In my view, this was leading to uncertainty that the communities of Arran and Ardrossan cannot afford. It now makes sense to broaden the search for a solution – which now includes potential purchase by the Scottish Government.
“We all absolutely understand people and communities’ views in favour of retaining Ardrossan as the mainland port and remain committed to ensuring the Arran ferry service is fit for the future.”
