Speed up Ardrossan Harbour buy-out or risk long delay, campaigners warn CMAL

Wyllie Hume, chair of Arran for Ardrossan Harbour, said: "Arran for Ardrossan Harbour has been in communication with CMAL and Peel Ports by email and phone.

"We have built up a picture of where we think they are with the ‘buy-out’ at the moment. 

"The position is that CMAL’s legal department is checking through the core documents which Peel Ports sent them before Christmas. When this process is complete, everything has to be scrutinised by Holyrood before it is given final approval. 

"Although things seem to be moving in the right direction, our main concern is the timescale. Due to the upcoming election, from 26 March no major government tasks will be carried out until after the election on 7 May. 

"As a consequence of this, we have asked CMAL if they can make sure that all the necessary documentation will be with the Scottish Government in time for them to finalise the purchase before 26 March. 

"Any delay could result in this being carried over until after the election, when presumably there will be a settling in period with at the very least a new Cabinet Secretary for Transport. 

"In addition to this, there will be the summer recess on the horizon which could cause further delay and continued uncertainty.

"Although we appreciate that these are complex negotiations, it will be a year next month since the buy-out was announced. 

"All of this could further the delay of the much needed re-build of Ardrossan Harbour. For all the reasons we have continually expressed, more delay is unacceptable. 

"It is worth remembering that politicians of all parties have stated their commitment to the future of Ardrossan Harbour as the route for Arran.

"Therefore, we would ask our supporters to email the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, asking her to make sure that this buy-out is actioned before the end of this parliamentary session and please copy Kevin Hobbs of CMAL into this:

cabsecfortransport@gov.scot
Kevin.hobbs@cmassets.co.uk

"We know that we have asked for this before, but we are now at a critical stage in the campaign. 

"Some may think that we should leave them to get on with the job and not distract them, but we say, in what way is emailing or campaigning a distraction for CMAL’s legal team in carrying out their task? It will let both CMAL and the Scottish Government know that we have not gone away.

"With an election coming up it seems a good time to remind the government that both Arran and Ardrossan communities have waited long enough."

A spokesperson from CMAL said: “We have made steady progress with the proposed purchase of the Port of Ardrossan. We are fully engaged with Peel Ports, and the Heads of Terms have been finalised. A price has been agreed in principle, and all parties are working together to achieve an outcome as early as possible.”