Councillors from across the political spectrum have united to oppose their own officials’ £7m plans for new ferry infrastructure in Dunoon.
And a petition is set to be handed to Argyll and Bute Council protesting against the plans, which would see the town lose its linkspan design for vehicle ferries.
The news – reported by the Dunoon Observer – raises further doubts over the project for new ferries linking Gourock with Kilcreggan and Dunoon, which has already been hit by vast cost increases.
The newspaper this week reports that Cllrs Daniel Hampsey (Conservative), Ross Moeland (Liberal Democrat) and Gordon Blair (SNP) have all said they oppose the four options presented in a consultation launched last month, since they would mean the £5.4m linkspan – which has never been used for vehicle ferries as intended – being removed.
One councillor compared the consultation to ‘a vegetarian going into a sandwich shop where there is only meat available’, while they all said a vehicle ferry from the town centre to Gourock was essential.
The project would have to be approved by elected members of the council, which is run by a coalition of Tories, Liberal Democrats and independents.
Consultation on the ‘Kilcreggan Harbour’ project is expected to start soon – the council’s initial cost estimate was £1.1m, but the preferred option presented last winter was expected to cost £9.3m.
The total cost of the three new ferries which was proposed for the routes has almost doubled in the last two years to £27m, while they are also a year behind schedule.
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