Kenneth Gibson MSP has slammed Peel Ports for is decades long neglect of Ardrossan Harbour, which has now led to their unilateral decision to close the Irish berth, saying:
“It is a damning indictment of Peel Ports management of Ardrossan Harbour that the Irish berth - their asset - has been neglected into closure.
“This is wholly the responsibility of Peel Ports. Not Transport Scotland, CalMac, CMAL or the Scottish Government.
“On 28 December 2023, Peel Ports posted its results for the 12 months to 31 March 2023 at Companies House. Their accounts show a huge rise in pre-tax profits from £66.6 million the previous year to £397.3 million. And yet for decades Peel has have taken millions in landing fees from ferry travelers while failing to invest in the port and haggling with Scottish Ministers and North Ayrshire Council to squeeze the last penny from the taxpayer towards the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.
“The people of Arran and Ardrossan are paying the price for the 1992 privatisation of Clydeport by the Tories, which took Ardrossan Harbour out of public control.
“The shutdown of the Irish berth now poses major questions about how ferry services to Arran are supported in the short term and the impact on the redevelopment of Ardrossan Harbour.
“I will meet with Transport Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP as a matter of urgency to press for solutions which increase capacity and resilience on the Arran service, whilst maintaining Ardrossan as the long-term Ayrshire port.”
