Calls have been made for the future of ferry services in Dunoon to be revisited – and backed by a serving councillor.
Robert Trybis, of the Dunoon-Gourock Ferry Action Group, gave a presentation to an Argyll and Bute Council committee before pleading for rethink.
Currently, only passenger vessels are planned to travel between Dunoon and Gourock, replacing the current Argyll Flyer and Ali Cat.
The council’s preferred option is for the existing linkspan to be removed and a pontoon berth installed, but only a third of respondents to a consultation were found to support this option.
Mr Trybis told the council’s Bute and Cowal community planning group: “You have this fantastic route around the Rest and Be Thankful, and at times when it is closed, it is a perfectly viable option to get ferries.
“But let us say it is a family of four and the Rest is shut. You get to the ferry terminal and find a massive queue of cars out on to the road.
Read more: Public rejected new ferry designs – but consultation results were kept secret
“You then get on to the ferry and get a real surprise because there is no price control. At times it is cheaper to take a family of four over to Ireland, or over the English Channel, than it is to go across the water.
“A lot of people want to commute from Dunoon; that is quite important for the town. But the trains leave a minute before the ferries arrive. This is complete madness.
“We would really like things brought up so that the whole decision gets looked at again, and a vehicle ferry service gets put out to tender.
“The current plan is passenger-only vessels. It does not matter how much you tinker at either side – smaller vehicles will cancel in bad weather whereas car ferries keep going.”
Cowal SNP Councillor Gordon Blair then said: “I completely concur.
“This is not something that is new – we have been talking about this for 20 years, and regardless of politics, my comment would be that Transport Scotland has been orchestrated into decline for all these years.
“We want to increase activity in Dunoon, and for anybody in any doubt whether we are talking through a hole in our heads, take a walk down Argyll Street.
“Somebody said that we will probably get our boats when the Dunoon Project gets off the ground, but that response is putting the cart before the horse. If we have the connectivity in place, we will have success with the Dunoon Project.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Ministers are very clear about the importance of supporting ferry services, including those services that link Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan.
“The Gourock-Dunoon-Kilcreggan infrastructure and vessels programme is complex and work is well underway to develop resilient vessel and port design options, and various options are being considered as part of the associated business case work.
“Indicative delivery dates and costs provided as part of project updates are subject to completion and approval of all relevant project stages, as well as availability of funding.
“This work is linked to the wider Islands Connectivity Plan, which will set out a long-term investment programme for vessels and ports across our ferry network. Local engagement events will be held to update the community on the ongoing work.”
Leave a Reply