Lochranza–Claonaig Winter Ferry

Islanders are speaking up in support of a winter ferry service from Lochranza to Claonaig. This week and next, we survey local opinion both on Arran and in Argyll on this question.

By Nick Underdown
Thursday, 9 October 2008

1,223 views

0 comments

Islanders are speaking up in support of a winter ferry service from Lochranza to Claonaig. As of 25th October, the summer service to the Kintyre peninsula will be reduced to a just one daily return sailing from Lochranza to Tarbert, but many businesses and residents are keen for an upgrade to the route, describing the existing winter service as 'totally inadequate.'

The calls come at an interesting time. This year the Scottish Government has launched a comprehensive review of lifeline ferry services which will put together a high-level strategy for transport to and from the islands up to 2025. 'We are not looking at changing timetables by five minutes or half an hour,' explained a Scottish Government spokesman from the Finance and Sustainable Growth department. 'We will look at it more strategically, in more general terms. First and foremost, we will ask: is this service currently adequate, and if not what can be done to improve it?' The review recognises that 'connectivity plays a key role in building safer and stronger communities [which] are fundamental to the attractiveness of Scotland as a place to live and work.'

Consultation next year

Islanders will be asked to contribute to the review, and next year between June and August, there will be a three month enquiry, including on-board passenger surveys and consultations with local communities, to get to grips with the potential island demand for the service. A working group will also be set up which will include representatives from COSLA, C-MAL, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, Visit Scotland, Hi-Trans and other independent experts. Full details can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/08/Committee2

CalMac have been in conversation with local businesses and the Arran Ferry Committee regarding the route, and their spokesman, David Cannon, stressed that they were not opposed to a winter extension in principle. But, as he said, 'It's not just a question of moving a bus stop.' Every stretch of water is graded for what type of vessel the conditions demand, and there is the larger question of ensuring that crossings link up with other transport. There is also the fact that CalMac is not free to make independent decisions on such major concerns. As a Government-subsidised body with annual costs of £150m, any addition to its.provision is a big decision. Laurie Sinclair of CalMac has said there has to be 'proof of commercial viability' before such a step into the unknown can be considered, and while it is not easy to prove the worth of a winter service that does not exist, the need for solid evidence is a reasonable one.

For this reason,.the Voice this week and next will be publishing opinions from islanders and from Argyll residents on whether there is a need for a better winter service between Lochranza and Kintyre. The first ones are as follows:

Robin Bell, Isle of Arran Distillery, Lochranza
It's our point of view that it is totally inadequate as it is. One sailing a day is pretty useless. We are a west coast distillery. We work closely with other distilleries on the west coast to encourage people to come and sample Scotland's whiskies here. It's a huge adventure and the only way that people can do it is by getting a ferry from one island to another. The amount of business that the distillery brings to the island is great for Arran Deliveries, Arran Haulage and the petrol companies. It amounts to a large part of the island's revenue and CalMac benefits too. We aim to bring people over from all over Europe to explore the distilleries in this area by arriving first on Arran and then crossing to Springbank distillery and then to Islay. I see Arran as a potential gateway to the West Coast. The sailing times are such that they are in the middle of the day and people don't have much time to spend here if they come via Brodick. We have a lot of meetings in Kintyre and travelling there is a three day job in the winter, which means that it's not cost-effective for us to go to these meetings — which is crazy. There are more and more people who want to use the sailing from both a commercial and leisure point of view.

Campbell Laing, Arran Community Council, Pirnmill
During the summer I think it's pretty adequate, but during the winter I think it is essential that we have access to the island from Kintyre so that you can arrive and leave (or vice versa) on the same day. I've spoken to many people around the island who feel that they would use the ferry if it was available. You could travel across for the afternoon or nip up to Oban and return on the same day. It opens the door for the island. At the moment people can't go away to Kintyre for the day. It's another avenue for people to come to the island. I know the big boat from Ardrossan is sometimes tied up during bad weather, but it's not neceesarily true that the wee boat would be affected in the same way. I know that they've got problems on the other side with the swell, but it depends on the direction of the wind. Companies like Forteiths come from Oban and they have to divert via Ardrossan during the winter instead of coming onto the island via Lochranza.

Gillean Bussell
I've got a case in point this month. I run Brightwater Holidays – we go off on the 9.30am boat to Claonaig, get the coach to Tayinloan and then the ferry to Gigha and then do the whole thing in reverse. It's a great day. A group always comes in October, but they have arranged it a week later this year due to the English October holidays and they will arrive after the Claonaig sailing has changed, which means I've had to change it. I don't think an service extended throughout the winter would affect the bus tours that I do from a business point of view, but I would certainly support an extension to the service. I would like to be able to go to the Oban during the winter. I'm sorry the ferry does not run more, but it is very weather-dependent.

To add your own comments, you must be a registered member of The Arran Voice.
LOG-IN or Register FREE!