Consultation events on £70m plans for new ferries and harbours for Kilcreggan, Gourock and Dunoon have been delayed at short notice.
The news from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) came as a senior councillor said he was confident that a ‘sympathetic’ solution could be found to the controversial £9.3m Kilcreggan Harbour project.
CMAL had scheduled consultation events in Cove, Gourock and Dunoon to start today but the state-owned company delayed them with just four days’ notice.
An initial consultation into the £26m Gourock project was held in September 2021.
It showed the preferred option (above) accommodating not only the new passenger ferries for Kilcreggan and Dunoon but the MV Glen Sannox, which notoriously is still not complete despite being scheduled to enter service five years ago.
A statement by CMAL said the events would now be heled after the school summer holidays, adding: “This is due to ongoing work on the Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan programme and other projects affecting the scope of Gourock Harbour renovation.”
The price of the project has rocketed – estimated costs of the three new ferries have doubled to a total of £28m, while the £9.3m preferred option of a pontoon and breakwater in Kilcreggan (below) is 745% higher than Argyll and Bute’s initial estimate.
The preferred option for Dunoon Harbour – which was rejected in a public consultation – would cost £7m.
Read more: Public rejected new ferry designs – then CMAL kept consultation results secret
Meanwhile Andrew Kain, Argyll and Bute’s transport lead, has given an update to councillors following his first visit to Kilcreggan.
He said the meeting (above)with community councillors, residents and officials had been ‘frank and constructive’.
“I believe we have an opportunity to more fully engage with the community now and when confirmation of ferries is achieved,” he added.
“The community have done considerable work in outlining an holistic vision on how to improve the attraction, facilities and economic future of Kilcreggan.
“Part of this vision is reliable ferry services that will better enable developments in tourism and improved access for locals.
“Transport Scotland is (hopefully) close to confirming the designs for new passenger ferries coming into operation on the Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan routes.
“I am confident, once it is clear on vessel design that, working with the community the service can deliver a solution that is sympathetic to the community vision with our objectives aligned.
“A solution that will enable berthing in more difficult conditions provide greater resilience, contribute to economic benefit and enhance local communications.”
Locals at the meeting welcomed the dialogue but were less optimistic about their preference of a new structure to the east of the 19th century pier being accepted, with one saying that ‘a lot of reasons’ had been given for option 4A – a large new pontoon and breakwater to the west of the pier.
A Save Kilcreggan Pier group was formed after the plan was revealed last year, with villagers fearing that the B-listed Victorian pier would not be maintained if it was no longer used by ferries.
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