22-02-12 Ferry Issues Kintyre
Ferry meeting success
Twenty two businesses operating in Kintyre met Highlands and Islands MSP Mike MacKenzie in Campbeltown on Monday 20th Feb to discuss the Scottish Governments Ferry Review. The meeting was chaired and organised by Campbeltown Councillor John Semple,
The ferries review has only one proposal for a new route in the whole of Scotland and that is a initial proposal for opening up a route from Campbeltown to Ayrshire and Arran one or two days a week,
Speaking after the meeting Cllr Semple said "This was a very productive meeting the group shared a great deal of useful information and suggestions on what local priorities should be for the route. We appreciate that a route from Campbeltown has been include in the review and, while it seems to be dependent on aspects of other routes, particularly how the Arran to Ardrossan route is serviced in future, everyone present was sure that a service from Campbeltown to the mainland would be well used but not as currently proposed."
Councillor Semple added "I was also glad to see that the review recognised the remoteness of South Kintyre, we are virtually an island here particularly when the A83 is so unreliable. The consensus of the meeting was that for maximum benefit to be gained from the service, it would have to operate at least 5 days per week, all year round. It should not include a leg to Brodick as there wouldn’t seem to be an advantage to Arran or Kintyre and therefore a service from Clonaig to Lochranza should be retained. I will be putting together a case, promoting this consensus to the Scottish Government in the weeks ahead and would welcome input from organisations who might regularly use such a service. I would also remind people that the present Government consultation on the Ferries Review is open until the 30th March contributions can be made online through the Transport Scotland website.
Councillor Semple added "I was also glad to see that the review recognised the remoteness of South Kintyre, we are virtually an island here particularly when the A83 is so unreliable.
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