The decision to continue 182 years of ferry services between Arran and Ardrossan has been welcomed by North Ayrshire Council Chief Executive Elma Murray.

Ms Murray said: “Without doubt, the Minister has reached the right decision following lengthy and detailed consideration of the technical data gathered during the assessment of both mainland berthing options.

“The announcement will reassure Arran residents and the wider travelling public that Ardrossan genuinely offers the best location for the new generation ferry being introduced in 2018.

“We are also grateful and proud of how the communities of Arran and Ardrossan rallied behind the fantastic ‘Keep it A to B – Save Our Ferry’ campaign.

“It has been a magnificent example of a community-wide response to a very real threat to the economic wellbeing of North Ayrshire and everyone should be proud of the commitment and spirit of the campaign.

“While we were never in any doubt that the people and businesses of Ardrossan would fight to save their ferry terminal, it was wonderful to see the community and business groups on Arran – the very people who rely on the service every day - also come out in support of retaining the historic link.”

Ms Murray added: “The Council and Peel Ports will now work towards delivering what we promised during the campaign - a major £15million redevelopment of the Ardrossan ferry terminal and marine infrastructure to service the route for the next 30 years.”

Doug Coleman, project director for Peel Ports, said: “We were always convinced that the benefits of retaining the ferry service on the shortest, fastest and cheapest route were overwhelming. Now that we have been given a long-term commitment by the Scottish Government, we are able to start on the biggest investment programme Ardrossan Harbour has seen in recent years.

“The new passenger and marine infrastructure – combined with the new £48.5 million ferry, which will come into service in the autumn of next year - will be of enormous benefit to the people of Arran and Kintyre – and to the hundreds of thousands of visitors who use the ferry service each year.

“From my many meetings with local people and other ferry users over the past few months, they have enthusiastically backed retaining the ferry on its traditional route, but they also made it clear that they wanted major investment in Ardrossan to meet the standard of the new vessel. That’s what we’re now going to deliver.”

CALMAC have welcomed the fact that the Arran ferry decision has been made which will allow them to focus on the service. 

In a brief statement, A CalMac spokesman said: “We welcome the conclusion of this study which will allow our staff to put the uncertainty behind them and focus on delivering the Arran ferry service.”

The company had previously not taken a side during the six month long campaign and remained neutral throughout.

South Ayrshire Council Leader, Bill McIntosh, has conceded defeat in the fight for the Arran Ferry.

He said: “We’re disappointed by the decision not to relocate the ferry to Troon; a move I believe would have delivered a more reliable service at no cost to the public purse, with the improvements to the terminal met entirely with private money. However from the outset we have maintained that we would accept the report’s recommendations and with the decision now made, that is what we will do.”

Associated British Ports, who run Troon Port, said: “We have significant reservations about the report underpinning this decision. 

“We remain convinced of the strength of the case for the Port of Troon, which stands ready to serve the people of Arran as and when they need it.”