MSP Baillie seeks answers on future of Kilcreggan ferry

MSP Jackie Baillie has asked to meet Transport Minister Humza Yousaf in a search for answers over the future of the future of Kilcreggan’s ferry.
Last month Strathclyde Partnership for Transport agreed a new contract with Clydelink, expecting that it would be taken over by Transport Scotland in July 2018 after a long campaign by community councillors.
But a few days later Mr Yousaf told the Scottish Parliament that new legal advice meant new ferry tenders would be ‘paused’ – including the Gourock to Dunoon contract, which it was expected would incorporate Kilcreggan.

• Now Ms Baillie has asked for a meeting with Mr Yousaf, asking:
  Will the ferry tenders review have an impact on the timescale for the transfer of the Kilcreggan service?
• If the review concludes that the Scottish Government can appoint an in-house operator to run the Clyde and Hebrides services, will this include the Kilcreggan service?
• What progress have Transport Scotland and SPT made since reaching agreement in principle on the transfer of responsibility?
• Does SPT’s decision to include provisions to extend the latest contract for the Kilcreggan by up to seven years indicate that there may be a longer timeline for transferring the service than initially realised?

Ms Baillie said: “I was delighted when SPT and Transport Scotland finally reached an agreement in principle on transferring the Kilcreggan to Gourock ferry because it followed a long campaign from the local community on the Rosneath Peninsula.
“Nobody expects a final deal to be reached quickly but local ferry users do expect to be fully involved in the process.
“Scottish Labour supports the review of ferry tenders because it means we could bring lifeline services into public hands to protect the interests of local communities and provide better services for passengers.
“However we need to know exactly what the implications will be for the handover of the service to Transport Scotland and whether the timescale will be affected.
“Given the latest developments I am seeking a meeting with the Transport Minister as soon as possible to discuss the progress being made and emphasise once again the need for a reliable ferry service for residents on the peninsula.”