ARRAN business leaders have hit out at plans to move the island's lifeline ferry route from Ardrossan to Troon.
Community groups want to keep the current service because they believe the proposed alternative will take longer and cost more.
The firm which owns the port in well-to-do Troon has offered to invest £8m in the town if it can poach lucrative links to the Clyde island from poverty-hit Ardrossan.
It is already facing fierce opposition to its plans from Joe Cullinane, the leader of North Ayrshire council, home to Ardrossan, who has described the plan "close to cataclysmic".
Now the Arran Economic Group (AEG) has added its voice to concerns at the plans, which were announced yesterday after weeks of secrecy.
Ahead of the announcement the group had already told Transport Minister Humza Yousaf of its concerns, who, it said, had signalled he had to consider all proposals.
A spokesman for AEG, describing the meeting with Mr Yousaf, said: "The collective representative voices confirmed the community of Arran was not in favour of this move for many reasons but in the main: there was no evidence that the move would improve the reliability of the service, it would be more-costly for passengers an d haulage due to the application of the Road Equivalent Tariff and it would increase journey times, finally and importantly, the route was not fully integrated with forward transport links."
The owner of Troon terminal, Associated British Ports or ABP, has claimed its port is more reliable than Ardrossan's but is currently looking for a new business after losing a service to Northern Ireland.
One of the firm’s directors, Andrew Harston, said: “For the community on Arran the connection to the mainland is absolutely vital and this should not be left to the mercy of the weather, as it has been for too long.
"The solution being offered by ABP at Troon, which is one of the most sheltered harbours on the west coast of Scotland, would represent nothing short of a transformation in the quality of the service on offer to the islanders and tourists."
Ardrossan is owned by Peel Ports. Its spokesman said the firm was 100 per cent committed to the terminal. He added: "Having lost Troon's P&O service, it's clear ABP is desperately searching for a way to replace their lost income, but a return journey from Troon to Brodick will add a further 52 minutes to the existing direct service, putting at severe risk the current number of sailings which passengers rely on daily.
"The new generation of ferries due in 2018 will also have high-power bow and stern thrusters, significantly improving the existing fleet's berthing capabilities and reliability."
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