Any Ferry News?

[Ptarmigan]

Hi,

It's been a few weeks now since that last meeting, so I'm just wondering if there's been any decision on the Ferry yet?

Cheers
Dick

[Mary G]

I heard that the consultants will be submitting their report to the clients (NI and Scotland) in early July.

After that it is anyone's guess.

[Ptarmigan]

Thanks Mary,

We'll certainly be keeping our fingers crossed over here.

Cheers
Ptarmigan

[John S]

Ferry update

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id= ... 687&ref=mf

[Kintyre Forum News]

I know it's been said before but for those of us who dont have/want facebook can you please copy and paste the text please ?

Here you go - didn't receive the e-mail from the Council on this but thanks to Cllr Semple for highlighting this - we will continue to pick up news from his facebook casebook and post these on here.

TALKS SEE FURTHER PROGRESS IN CAMPBELTOWN – BALLYCASTLE FERRY PLANS

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 09:52
The proposal to re-establish a ferry service between Kintyre and Northern Ireland have taken a further step forward following discussions with Scottish and Northern Irish Ministers.

Ministers and Local Authority partners agreed to move to the next stage of developing tender documents for the route early in the New Year.

The news follows a successful meeting between Argyll and Bute Council Leader Dick Walsh and Chief Executive Sally Loudon, their counterparts in Moyle District Council Councillor Cara McShane and Richard Lewis, and Northern Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Arlene Foster.

Councillor Walsh said: “We had a very positive discussion about the potential benefits which such a service would bring to both Northern Ireland and Scotland, and I am delighted that we agreed to move to the next stage in developing these proposals.

“I sincerely believe that the opportunities which the ferry will unlock are substantial. The most obvious areas of benefit are in the tourism and renewable energy sectors, but the service will also open the door to significant development potential in many other sectors.

“We very much look forward to working in partnership with our colleagues in Northern Ireland, both at local and national government level, to see these plans finally come to fruition.”

Councillor Cara McShane, Chairperson of Moyle District Council, said she welcomed the outcome of the meeting.

“A Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service has huge potential in terms of developing the local economy and enhancing the tourist industry throughout the island of Ireland, so we are delighted that the plans have taken a step forward.

“Such a service could only serve to strengthen the links which already exist between the two communities in terms of culture and language, and Moyle District Council looks forward to playing its part in bringing it back.”

Argyll and Bute Council will now liaise with the Scottish Government with the aim of securing a meeting early in 2010 to develop tendering documents.

Work has also begun to convene a group of key national and local partners which will be tasked with creating a joint plan to unlock the full economic potential of the Campbeltown-Ballycastle route in the longer term.

EDITORS NOTES

A summer-only ferry service operated by the Argyll and Antrim Steam Packet Company (a subsidiary of Sea Containers) ran between Campbeltown and Ballycastle for three seasons from 1997 to 1999.

Argyll and Bute Council and Moyle District Council have been working in partnership since that time to re-establish a viable service.

[Mod4]

Split this thread and split the other posts to viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9122 where you can continue your ramblings. Please keep this thread to its topic - The Ferry

[Kintyre Forum News]

This is an economic appraisal, which was undertaken at the request of Scottish Ministers and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers, to examine the case for restoring the Campbeltown-Ballycastle ferry service. It was prepared in accordance with Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), and consists of 3 documents: the Appraisal Report, the Option Generation and Sifting Report, and the Consultation Report.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Trans ... 14342/STAG

Anyone care to read this and give us an update please?

[Nomad]

< insert standard toon comment about no ferry/new all weather pitch/ new tesco/ old potholes/ here.