OFFICIALS in charge of the lifeline Gourock-Kilcreggan ferry have agreed to offload the service.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) have voted in favour of handing over the reins to government agency Transport Scotland (TS) from April 1.

The decision was made at a meeting of SPT's influential operations committee on Friday, although the move has still to be formally ratified.

A transfer of responsibility for the service has been on the horizon for several years.

SPT has long argued that the government agency is better placed to run ferry services as it already manages the vast majority of routes in Scotland, including those operated by Gourock-based CalMac.

Councillor David Wilson, Inverclyde's representative at SPT and chairman of the operations committee, said: "It was agreed that the Kilcreggan Ferry will go to Transport Scotland from April 1.

"This is what we wanted.

"I'm delighted. "Ferries and a single ferry service is not a good fit with the rest of SPT and its strategic transport responsibilities in the west of Scotland.

"We will continue to pay a fixed amount of £387,500 towards the cost of running the service."

The ferry is vital for workers getting to and from the Coulport naval base and for residents living on the Cowal Peninsula to access services, such as health care at Inverclyde Royal Hospital, and to get to places like Glasgow.

It has been run by Greenock-based Clyde Marine, headed up by Captain Hamish Munro, since 2018 after the deal with previous operators, Clydelink, was cut short after a disastrous spell which was dogged by cancellations, vessel faults and safety issues.

Mr Wilson said: "We are very appreciative of Captain Munro, who came in two years ago after a period of unreliability.

"We appreciate the efforts of him and his team."

Clyde Marine will continue running the service until a long-term plan is drawn up.

CalMac has been tipped to take over the route but transport officials say no final decision has been made on the transfer of responsibility or the future operator.

A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said: "The Gourock-Kilcreggan service is the responsibility of SPT but we are aware of this route's importance to the communities that the ferry serves. "Talks between Transport Scotland, SPT and others regarding the future of the ferry service are ongoing and details on the way forward will be outlined as soon as possible."