New Government Ferry Plan Proposals

[jowett63]

Two big potential wins for Kintyre in the new Government Ferry Plan proposals as reported by the BBC:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-h ... s-16286208
The first is the extension of the Road Equivalent Pricing to ALL ferries, so potentially much cheaper local ferry fares and secondly :
" giving consideration to a vehicle and passenger service between Campbeltown and Ayrshire one or two days a week are also among the plan's key option".

The Plan is open to consultation and we should really all say a big yes to both ideas.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/str ... nsultation

[MPR]

YES! YES! YES!!!!!!!

[Niander]

vehicle and passenger service between Campbeltown and Ayrshire one or two days a week

Now that would be good!

[John S]

The issue with this is how the service would best cater for the needs of potential users? it is important that as much feedback as possible from potential regular users - both commercial and personal, feedback to this consultation by 30 March 2012, a period of 14 weeks. Extract on the Campbeltown Service -

Kintyre
135. Kintyre currently has a service from Tarbert that links the peninsula with
Portavadie. This is an important connection which is not only used as an
alternative to the extended road journey for people travelling from Kintyre to the
central belt, but is used by people living around Portavadie who want to travel
to Kintyre and from there to Oban. It is also popular in the summer with visitors
and forms part of a strategic set of routes that facilitate tourism in the summer
months. To remove the route could have implications for not just the immediate
area but further afield.
136. Given the inaccessibility of the Kintyre peninsula via road, we have
looked at the potential for a new ferry route between Campbeltown and the
Scottish mainland. This would be subject to two smaller vessels being
introduced on the Arran route. Specifically, a service operating between
Kintyre, via Arran to Ardrossan (or Troon). The service would operate one
or two days per week and allow for a meaningful day return trip to the
Scottish mainland.
137. We very much welcome the introduction of West Coast Motors
passenger only service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle. We would
hope that any new service introduced would complement what is already
provided.
138. The proposal is at an early stage and would be dependent on proposals
going forward from other parts of the network. In particular the potential to
introduce a two-vessel service on Arran’s principal route. It is therefore a
longer-term proposal.
139. This Draft Ferries Plan does not consider a Campbeltown to Ballycastle
ferry service. Given continued financial pressures, ferries budget priorities must
remain on the existing contracts and committed vessel and harbour projects.
140. The community is asked for their views on the following proposals:
To retain the Kintyre to Portavadie service as is;
Whether a vehicle service as described between Campbeltown and
the Scottish mainland (for example Troon) would be well used.

An online questionnaire is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QZ25CFT
Alternatively, responses and comments can be sent to:
Colin Grieve
Transport Scotland
Ferries Unit
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0131-244-1539 Email: colin.grieve@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk