Islanders oppose plans to reduce ferry service to Cumbrae

Cuts to ferry services for the Isle of Cumbrae will leave the local community "under pressure", locals have claimed.

Operator CalMac intends to scale back sailings between Largs and Millport from four per hour to three.

Islanders believe Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop should intervene before the new timetable takes effect from 27 March.

CalMac said the changes were due to the scrapping of simultaneous loading and unloading of passengers and vehicles. The firm said this was needed for safety reasons, but would extend the turnaround time between journeys.

However, islanders argue the current format of the service is sustainable.

They fear the reduction in journeys will cause damage to the local economy by cutting the amount of visitors going there during the peak summer season.

Angus Campbell, the chairman of Cumbrae Ferry Committee and a community council member, said CalMac was proposing "radical cuts" which would put the community under pressure.

He said: "We do not believe that the end of simultaneous loading and unloading is justified.

"There have been no safety issues on our route for 40 years whilst carrying over 28 million passengers.

"It is a backdoor way of imposing large-scale service reductions to our island and to our fragile economy."

Campbell also said he did not believe there had been meaningful consultation between the ferry company and islanders over the plans, something CalMac disputes.

He added: "Cutting capacity on a busy, well-performing route reduces revenue, damages the fragile island economy, and increases the subsidy burden on the public purse."

A protest against the changes is due to take place on Cumbrae on Saturday.

CalMac insists the move is needed, and the current format only takes place on the Largs to Cumbrae route.

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 10 minutes, but it brings the service in-line with how we operate on all other routes with slipways."

Mackison said CalMac had been in talks with Cumbrae Ferry Users Group about the plans since October.