Save Our Ferry: Exclusive interview with the leader of North Ayrshire Council Joe Cullinane

And in part one of the interview with him, Joe addresses concerns about the weather, the campaign for Troon and the need for assurance in Ardrossan. 
Spearheading the campaign along with the Herald is North Ayrshire Council and their leader, Joe Cullinane is at the heart of it. 

The Labour Councillor is keen to let the public know that this is a campaign based on fact and that Ardrossan is the only choice.

Supporters of the Ardrossan campaign say many statements have been thrown about that Troon is somehow more reliable than the North Ayrshire service - with no facts to back this up. 

Joe recognised this.

He said: “The biggest misrepresentation of the whole debate is that somehow Troon is more reliable. 

“There is no evidence to suggest that’s the case and if you listen to Calmac executives that have been to the Arran Ferry Group then they have been clear that the weather is the same in Ardrossan as it is in Troon. 

“So if the weather is bad, it’s not going to get into Troon the same way it won’t get into Ardrossan and then you’ve got the other issue that a lot of the cancellations have actually been technical issues with the boat. 

“There’s a new boat coming on board and Peel Ports have obviously been very clear with us about working to ensure that Ardrossan’s fit for purpose to take the boat. 

“As soon as the new boat comes in, the service will presumably be more reliable anyway.

“The whole debate in terms of Arran and regardless they are going to get an improved service. The issue is how long is it going to take, how much is it going to cost, how are they going to then get to the train or onto the motorway to wherever they’re going.”

The Council Leader also respects the campaign that the Troon Business Association have organised but urges them to be clear and factual at all times.

He said: “The first thing to say that they have every right to have a campaign on behalf of their town, it wasn’t them, it was ABP, that’s the only reason we are having the debate. 

“It has near enough sailed from Ardrossan for 200 years, if ABP hadn’t put in their opportunistic bid, there wouldn’t be any debate about the future of the Arran ferry.

“They’re backing that and they are absolutely entitled to do so but what I would say to them is keep it accurate, keep it factual, make sure that the arguments you’re making are based on something rather than just flimsy arguments that they seem to have been putting together to date. 

“The other thing I would say to them is just acknowledge that there is the issue of inequality at the heart of this. If the ferry does move to Troon, the Scottish Government will have made the decision to move it away from the most deprived area in Ayrshire to arguably the most affluent. 

“They have to acknowledge that it is a real issue in this campaign.” 

And one of the main reasons islanders have been showing indifference to Ardrossan is that they say Peel Ports haven’t invested in the town. The politician agrees to an extent and acknowledges that something long-term has to be put in place to keep it in Ardrossan.

He added: “Part of it is it has been there for so long, it is part of the community as much as anything and Ardrossan doesn’t stand to gain anything, it stands to lose something and I think that is at the heart of why the community is so up in arms about the ABP proposal.

“Troon would be receiving a service, Ardrossan would be seeing one withdrawn, one which provides jobs, provides money into the local economy and I think people recognise that.

“I can understand peoples view or argument that Peel Ports haven’t invested in Ardrossan Harbour over many years but let’s put it on the table, they don’t have a strong and robust contract with the Scottish Government to retain that ferry service between Ardrossan and Arran. It seems to be done on a per passenger basis, I think that what we have an opportunity to do through the campaign is to get something that is really robust and is a guarantee almost to Peel Ports, which allows them, to work with us in a more joined up and collaborative approach to make sure the harbour is fit for purpose and make sure it is actually worth their while investing money in that asset.” 

Make sure you get next week’s paper for part two where Joe speaks about CalMac, what happens if the ferry does move and travel costs, times and connections.