Protest at changes to Clyde ferry service

Villagers in Kilcreggan, on the Rosneath Peninsula in Argyll, warned that the Gourock-Kilcreggan- Helensburgh ferry service is at risk after Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) announced changes earlier this year.

Locals were also protesting yesterday over redundancies at the 115-year-old wooden Kilcreggan Pier where the ferry docks, meaning the pier will be unmanned for the first time.

SPT agreed to change the service provider in January, switching to Clydelink, with the announcement that the firm would use a new purpose-built ferry and that the deal would save more than £190,000 a year.

Local people have been told the plans for a new boat have been dropped, raising fears over whether the service, which is used by school pupils, students and workers from Coulport and Faslane naval bases, can continue.

Clydelink has instead bought the Island Princess, a former pleasure boat which is smaller and slower than the current Seabus ferry. The vessel can only accommodate 40 passengers under cover.

Argyll and Bute Council has also issued redundancy notices to three staff who work at the pier.

Jackie Baillie, MSP for nearby Dumbarton, called for SPT to extend the current contract with Clyde Marine Motoring, suspend the contract with Clydelink and reopen the tendering process.

Local councillor George Freeman said: “People from both sides of the Clyde are showing their concerns – they rely on this boat to go back and forth to work and college.”