SMALL business owners in a seaside town fear going under — with customer numbers plunging by half after a crucial ferry service was re-routed.
Ardrossan has been connected to the isle of Arran by boat for around 200 years but its harbour has nowhere to store the cleaner fuel used by CalMac’s newest vessel.
Ardrossan has been connected to the isle of Arran by boat for around 200 years[/caption]
Members of the Save Ardrossan Harbour group[/caption]
The long-delayed, over-budget MV Glen Sannox, which carried passengers for the first time on January 13, is also too big to be safely berthed in Ardrossan.
Instead, it sails to and from Troon, a 16-mile drive away.
Calling for SNP ministers to urgently find the cash to upgrade the port, Dora Kane, 34, who owns Ardrossan laundry service Sylvia’s Soapy Suds, said: “We’re getting hit from both sides.
“The ferry staff aren’t working at Ardrossan any more and we’re missing out on Airbnb orders from Arran.
“I’m losing £300 to £400 a week. It’s a lot. The Scottish Government needs to get a move on.”
Molly Murray, 37, co-owner of Seahorse Bookstore, said: “We’ve seen a big reduction in people.
We’re getting hit from both sides… I’m losing £300 to £400 a week. It’s a lot. The Scottish Government needs to get a move on
Dora Kane
“Tourists and Arran locals make up half of our customer base.
“It’s been disastrous Thousands of people depend on the ferry.”
Hairdresser Marian Small, 57, who owns The Salon, said: “I had quite a few clients who came over from the island but they’ve all stopped.
“It’s very worrying.
“It doesn’t bode well when the major thing that brings people into the town is taken away.”
Islander Jay Kramer, 74, is registered with a dentist in Ardrossan and now faces a lengthy detour to make appointments.
She said: “At Ardrossan, it’s just a 10-minute walk up the road. Troon is miles away.”
It’s very worrying. It doesn’t bode well when the major thing that brings people into the town is taken away
Marian Small
Matthew McGowan, secretary of Save Ardrossan Harbour, said: “Locals are incredibly frustrated.
“For foot passengers, it’s a huge inconvenience.”
A paper petition organised by the group has attracted around 20,000 signatures and an online version has more than 1,700.
Scottish Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “Only the SNP could be six years late delivering a ferry and still not have upgraded the harbour it’s due to sail to.”
Scottish Labour MSP Katy Clark said: “The lack of action by the Scottish Government to proactively support businesses in Ardrossan and Arran is unacceptable.
“I have asked the Government to bring forward a compensation plan for local businesses.”
Transport Scotland insisted: “The Scottish Government remains committed to finding a solution at Ardrossan that can be delivered in a cost-effective way.
“Discussions and negotiations around the delivery of improvements at the port have been complex but the business case review is substantially complete, and project partners continue to work on this as quickly as practicable.”
Seahorse Bookstore co-owner Molly Murray[/caption]
Dora Kane who owns Ardrossan laundry service Sylvia’s Soapy Suds[/caption]
Arran resident Jay Kramer[/caption]
