GRASSROOTS support for the Save Our Ferry on Arran is starting to gather pace with cross-party backing for the retention of Ardrossan being the key message.

Gathering signatures at the Co-op in Brodick, Ellen McMaster, Margaret Gray and Colin Turbett, the trio, along with other supporters are keen to spread the message about the cheaper, faster and more economical sailing from Ardrossan to Brodick and are doing everything that they can to make sure that Troon doesn’t become the home port for the lifeline services.

They told the Herald: “We were waiting for the community council or community groups to take a lead but we started to feel like nothing was happening and we kept hearing that Arran people weren’t getting a say and why aren’t they asking us so we are a group of friends who got together.

“We are all different political parties but we are doing it without [political] badges because we realise there are a lot of people who don’t write angry letters to the newspapers and they are not getting a voice and the implications for the economy, for people whether young or elderly, people with luggage is huge and we just felt we couldn’t leave it.

Having just started, their fight for Ardrossan has received fantastic support and watching the people enter and leave the supermarket, it was evident to see that Arran supports Ardrossan.

They added: “[The reaction] has been brilliant, last week we did Wednesday, Thursday Friday and this week we’ve done two days so far. People are coming up to us without us even asking them.

“People have connections in Ayrshire, family who they visit a lot and that wasn’t one of the things we had thought about. Aunties, grans, cousins and there is a connection to Crosshouse Hospital. We can get the number 11 bus.”

One of the arguments which comes up again and again the transport links from Ardrossan and this has been at forefront for the group.

Margaret said: “The big thing is the train. We can just walk off and get on the train and plus we can get a bus straight to Glasgow.

“That’s been built up over the years so why waste it all?”

Media coverage has been getting across to the island and people have been making up their own minds on what has been happening.

Ellen added: “There’s been a lot of awareness about the boat hitting Troon Harbour and using tugs, they are all on that. The people mention P&O leaving.

“There are a lot of comments about not being happy with Peel Ports but we feel we can do something with this rather than jump into the complete unknown and lose from Ardrossan from ever.

“[There has been] a few comments about services from both but maybe that might be one for the future.

As we have been reported in the past, North Ayrshire Council run services on the island and that could increase if it moves and that has been mentioned by people signing the petition.

The team added: “A lot of people didn’t realise it is South Ayrshire Council and if that money that the ferry raises goes out of North Ayrshire, the impact on the services, the social care, the library van and we will have a lot to lose.

“One woman came in and said do they not realise that everything will go up in price. It is already dear to live here but your 79p Co-op loaf will be £1.79 but it has a massive impact.

“A lot of older people go across every week and do all of their shopping at Asda, Aldi or the Stevenston Lidl and come back on the 12.30[pm] ferry.

“We just wanted to let Arran people have a say, that was the main thing.”

There are workers who travel across to work at the Co-op from the mainland and many of them have said that if it moves to Troon then it wouldn’t be worth it and this is another key aspect of the campaign, to ensure that nobody loses employment as a result of a move to Troon.

This along with many other factors point to Ardrossan and the status quo remaining with improvements through investment by North Ayrshire Council and Peel Ports.