'Significant concern' over plans to cut ferry services

Scottish Government agency Transport Scotland have published a review into the services between Gourock and Dunoon and from Gourock to Kilcreggan on the Rosneath peninsula.

The 90 page report by environmental consultants Stantec questions the need for a CalMac passenger only ferry between Gourock and Dunoon given privately run Western Ferries also provide the same service.

The report also suggests that the current CalMac ferry from Gourock to Kilcreggan be replaced by a new triangular service linking Gourock, Dunoon, and Kilcreggan.

READ MORE: Fears over cuts to Gourock and Dunoon ferry services

However, Inverclyde Council has now written to Transport Scotland with its fears over the proposals and the wider impact on Greenock and Port Glasgow.

Councillors on Inverclyde Council's Environment & Regeneration Committee were shown the contents of the letter sent to Transport Scotland at their most recent meeting.

It expresses particular concerns over how any change to the ferries could affect Inverclyde's fragile local economy.

The letter says of the ferry plans: "It should be recognised that this would be an inappropriate solution.

(Image: Duncan Bryceland) "The council would express significant concern with the suggested reduction in service capacity as set out in the consultation document and note that this would reduce access to opportunity for those living and working in Inverclyde and the Inverclyde visitor economy.

"Inverclyde s experiencing a range of socio-economic challenges including depopulation, ageing population, social and economic deprivation, health challenges and below average earnings compared to national indicators.

"Inverclyde Council supports investment in transport infrastructure to support its wider strategic aims and ambitions."

Thousands of people use the routes each year between Gourock, Dunoon, and KIlcreggan which are provided by state owned CalMac and Western.

In October in the Tele Gourock councillor Lynne Quinn expressed her own concerns over the proposed ferry cutbacks.

She says any cuts in the daily CalMac services would impact on local people who travel to Dunoon for work and businesses which rely on visitors from Dunoon and Kilcreggan.

Councillor Quinn added: "The community council have been trying for a number of years to get the CalMac car ferry reinstated and this would be another blow."

David Clough, of Dunoon Community Council fears the Stantec review is a precursor to further cuts in ferry services between the two towns.

He said: "Every day there are considerable numbers of people arriving in Dunoon from Gourock by ferry on foot to work who then commute back in the evening.

"The CalMac and Western Ferries services are vital service to both communities."

Transport Scotland began a public consultation on proposed changes in September.

At present CalMac, which is owned by the Scottish Government, provide a pedestrian only ferry from Dunoon Pier to Gourock Ferry terminal with a train connection to Glasgow Central Station.

The Western Ferries service, which also carries vehicles, is from Hunters Quay, near Dunoon, and McInroy's Point, on the outskirts of Gourock.

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “The future shape of the Gourock-Dunoon/Kilcreggan ferry services has to balance meeting community needs with providing value for money.

"Services should run when people need them but also be proportionate to demand.

"Current service costs are high and customers' fares only cover a small proportion of those costs."