The possibility of Kilcreggan’s ferry service being run by the Scottish Government rather than SPT will finally be discussed next week.
Officials from Transport Scotland, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Inverclyde Council and Argyll and Bute Council are all due to discuss the issue.
Combining Kilcreggan’s ferry with the Dunoon to Gourock service is an option which has been put forward by several local politicians, as well as this website – new contracts for both routes are due to come into force next year.
And a statement by SPT hints that this could be their preferred solution: “With contracts for the Gourock to Kilcreggan and Argyll to Dunoon ferry services both due for retendering within the next 12 months by SPT and Transport Scotland respectively, a meeting has been arranged for next week to discuss the positions of each organisation and any possible options which might exist for future delivery of the services.
“SPT has requested that Argyll and Bute and Inverclyde Councils have officers who can speak to their respective positions on the future of the service(s) attend the meeting.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman confirmed the meeting was due to go ahead, but said the ball was still in SPT’s court: “Transport Scotland remains willing to consider a possible transfer of responsibility of the Gourock to Kilcreggan ferry service and our officials will meet with SPT officials next week to discuss the future of the ferry service.
“However, the initiative and decision to pursue a transfer of responsibility must come from the authority with responsibility for the service, in this case SPT.
“Transport Scotland or Scottish Ministers cannot impose or request the pursuit of a transfer, that decision must come from SPT, with them taking into account the views of their stakeholders.”
In fact legislation appears to put that assertion open to question, stating: “A Transport Partnership shall… comply with any directions… given to it or to Transport Partnerships generally by the Scottish Ministers.”
At a public meeting in Greenock last year Infrastructure, Investment and Cities Secretary Keith Brown said there were ‘possible advantages’ in Transport Scotland taking over the Kilcreggan ferry.
But this week a Transport Scotland spokesperson said there had been talks with SPT in 2012/13: “However at that stage SPT confirmed that they did not wish to pursue the matter.”
The new Kilcreggan contract is due to come into effect in April 2017, and the contract for the Dunoon route currently served by Argyll Ferries in June of the same year.
But the spokesperson said: “As SPT are currently responsible for the Kilcreggan service, Transport Scotland cannot intervene in the operation of the service and as such it will not, at this time, form part of the next Gourock to Dunoon ferry service contract due to commence in June 2017.”
He added that the Scottish Government’s Ferries Plan made clear that they were ‘willing to assume responsibility for all lifeline ferry services in Scotland’ – provided it was classed as ‘lifeline’.
For further background information see this article: http://thelochsidepress.com/2016/05/12/six-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-kilcreggan-and-dunoon-ferries/
Is there any point therefore discussing combining both services, if they are going to tender them separately? Think both the SPT and TS need to have their heads banged together, and BEFORE these talks start. What’s the point otherwise?
It’s like groundhog day; civil servants going round in circles, none taking responsibility, none taking a decision.