CalMac revives ferry cuts plan which islanders claim will damage Cumbrae's 'fragile' economy
Sailings would be cut by 25 per cent to improve passenger safety during turnarounds
Islanders claim CalMac will damage the Cumbrae’s "fragile economy" by reviving shelved plans to cut ferries by 25 per cent to allow more time for vehicles and passengers to board and disembark safely.
The operator plans to reduce the frequency of the ten-minute Clyde crossings from Largs from four to three an hour from the start of its summer timetable on March 27.
It had intended to reduce the service last year after a series of near misses between vehicles and passengers boarding and disembarking at the same time, but put it off after opposition to the change.
CalMac said it now planned to press ahead because it was “not comfortable with the risk to customers, crew and shore staff” after conducting a “thorough review”.
It said the reduced timetable would still meet demand.
However, Cumbrae Ferry Users Group, the official passenger body, said on Friday there had been “no safety issues” for 40 years during which the service had carried more than 28 million passengers.
It is also concerned at capacity being further reduced by the main vessel on the route being removed for maintenance, which it said should be carried out overnight.
Locals are planning a demonstration on the island at 1pm on Saturday.
Group chair Angus Campbell said: “It is a back door way of imposing large-scale service reductions to our island and to our fragile economy.
“Cutting capacity on a busy, well-performing route reduces revenue, damages the fragile island economy, and increases the subsidy burden on the public purse.”
He said tourism “the backbone of Cumbrae’s economy” - was expected to be hardest hit along with access to health care, education, care services, and commuting.
Mr Campbell called on Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop to order CalMac to scrap the plans “unless and until a fully evidenced, assessed and properly consulted alternative is produced”.
CalMac said it had shared its plans with the group several months ago.
It said the current five-minute turnaround time between sailings was often rushed at busy periods and sailings ran late.
The operator said: “This change in turnaround time would mean the number of sailings per hour reduces from four to three but would, albeit with constraints, meet demand under our proposed timetable.”
CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said: “Safety is our number one priority and following a thorough review we are not comfortable with the risk to customers, crew and shore staff when loading and unloading cars and foot passengers at the same time.
The consequence of this is that turnaround times at Largs and Cumbrae will be ten minutes, but it brings the service in line with how we operate on all other routes with slipways.”
CalMac said another ferry would operate when the route’s main vessel, Loch Shira, was underfoing maintenance one day a month.
First Minister John Swinney told MSPs on Thursday that Ms Hyslop would meet CalMac next week to discuss the plans.
He said CalMac would ensure they were “fully discussed” with the community before any final decisions were taken.
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