Agenda and minutes

The scheduled meeting of the Ferry Sub Group was subsumed into the main Kintyre Initiative Partnership in the absence of Councillor Semple.

There was a broad discussion on the performance of the ferry during the second year of the pilot and it was recognised that the passenger and vehicular carryings were similar to 2013. It was considered that the Commonwealth Games may have impacted on the numbers of tourists using the service. The usage by commercial vehicles remains extremely low.

Council officials have been requested to engage with North Ayrshire Council in order to highlight our concerns that the Ardrossan to Campbeltown link is maintained. The view over the suitability of the timetable was expressed but Transport Scotland reiterated that a detailed analysis of the timetable had already been undertaken and it had been accepted that for a true comparison the existing timetable should be retained for the length of the pilot scheme which is due to conclude in September 2015.

There was a brief discussion on the suitability of the current vessel and it was noted that when the Isle of Arran is replaced there will be another vessel cascaded from within the fleet to serve this route.

It was noted that as this was not a formal meeting there were no decisions taken nor was there a date set for the next meeting of the group.

Minute of the previous meeting held on 25 April, 2014.

Verbal update by Marine Operations Manager