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The Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop has confirmed that an agreement has been reached with Ardrossan Harbour owners, Peel Ports, after more than a year of negotiations to nationalise the harbour.
Negotiations for the purchase of the harbour have successfully concluded and formal acquisition by government owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) will be concluded later this month.
Ms Hyslop said: ““The Scottish Government is clear that we want Ardrossan to be the primary mainland port for CalMac ferry services to Arran. That is why I am pleased to confirm that the negotiations and wider legal agreements for the purchase of Ardrossan harbour have now been successfully concluded and will be signed by CMAL this month.
“This purchase will secure the harbour in public ownership to allow for us to focus on the redevelopment of the facility as the primary mainland port for the Arran ferry service. CMAL are already considering short term work to ensure resilient operations whilst the MV Caledonian Isles continues to operate from Ardrossan, and we are committed to funding a two-port service until the major works begin.
Speaking at the announcement in parliament, Kenneth Gibson MSP, who represents both Ardrossan and Arran, said: “Today’s announcement finally rights the wrong-headed 1992 Tory privatisation of Ardrossan Harbour - an act which ensured that maintenance of this crucial infrastructure was left at the whim of private interests.
“Talk is easy, and there has been much of it, but Scottish ministers are actually delivering for the people of Ardrossan and Arran".
Lobbying groups, Arran for Ardrossan Harbour and Save Ardrossan Harbour, have campaigned tirelessly to retain Ardrossan as Arran’s main port and welcomed the news. A spokesperson from Arran for Ardrossan Harbour said: “Both campaigning groups welcome the announcement by Fiona Hyslop that Ardrossan Harbour is very close to being taken back into public ownership after years of privatisation.
“It is now crucial that both the communities of Ardrossan and Arran participate in the initial planning for both the harbour and the terminal. We demand that no time will be lost in getting this process started so that the tendering can commence and the work on the new harbour can begin. It is important that the work carried out at Ardrossan Harbour results in an increase in reliability and that the harbour is suitable for the berthing of vessels of various dimensions, thus providing flexibility for the future of the service.
“Access panels have been set up in both Arran and Ardrossan to advise CMAL on issues around accessibility and we will be working closely with them to this end.
“Save Ardrossan Harbour and Arran for Ardrossan Harbour feel that it is essential for a ferry to run out of Ardrossan Harbour whilst work is being carried out, rather than being closed for the whole time which would be detrimental for residents, visitors and businesses in both Ardrossan and Arran.”
Ardrossan Harbour has received little use over the last year and has fallen into disrepair. A major upgrading of the facility will be required to correct years of little to no investment and additional major works will be required to accommodate the two new ferries, MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, when it enters service.
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