Sunday, 28th June 2020
Mr Tommy Gore Area Operations Manager (Clyde) Caledonian MacBrayne
Dear Tommy,
Re: Passengers on car decks
Thank you for your reply dated 27th June.
We are indeed very pleased and wholeheartedly welcome your news that you will be introducing the Lochranza to Claonaig route as of 15th July. The residents of Arran thank you for that.
We are also delighted and applaud your efforts that you have managed to receive the exemption from the MCA to allow passengers to remain in their cars on the 85 minute Tarbert to Lochranza crossing on MV Catriona. This is a fantastic step forward and offers some of our more vulnerable, or even 'shielding', residents another possible option of travel to the mainland.
However, we do not fully accept your reasons for not re-instating the Claonaig service immediately. With self-catering reopening next week, and the critical difference the loss of a further two weeks' bookings and trading will make to the survival of many businesses, not to mention the backlog of island residents' urgent needs to visit the mainland, it really is essential that every effort be made to maximise our lifeline ferry services.
While we understand that requiring crew to re-locate to Lochranza in the short term may be problematic, it is not unreasonable to expect staff — who are seafarers — to stay away from home for a short period of time, bearing in mind that every other large vessel in the CalMac fleet has the crew staying onboard and therefore away from home for two week rotations. However, we can understand there are other more personal reasons, such as parental responsibilities, that may make this unworkable.
You studiously ignored the final proposal in the letter that the service be based in Tarbert, but actually operate a Lochranza to Claonaig shuttle. I will flesh out this proposal a little more for you here. A suggested timetable could look something like this:
0900 Depart Tarbert. 1100 Depart Lochranza and commence a 4-return sailing shuttle service between Lochranza and Claonaig. On arrival at Lochranza at 1500, the vessel then departs for Tarbert arriving at 1700. Boat berths in Tarbert overnight.
Arran Ferry Action Group • Thistledo, Shore Road, Brodick, Isle of Arran KA27 8AJ +44 (0)1770 302 546 [email protected] www.arranferries.scot Mr Tommy Gore Page 2 of 2 Sunday, 28th June 2020
You can surely see the significant benefits that the additional capacity that a 'turn-up-and-go' service off the north end of the island would offer the community when faced with continuing significant reduction in capacity through Brodick. It also offers another early on-island and a later off-island service for essential goods (such as the wide array of fresh produce from Arran) or any dangerous cargo at the beginning and end of each day.
When compared with other similar islands — such as Mull or Bute — Arran is clearly being disproportionately affected. Mull maintains a regular link to Craignure, along with a frequent and unrestricted Fishnish to Lochaline sailing. Bute has its regular sailing to Rothesay, with the frequent and unrestricted service on the Rhobodach to Colintraive route. In comparison, Arran is the poor relation, despite being more populous than Mull and only slightly less than Bute.
I welcome the opportunity to discuss this in more detail as required and hope that the good sense of the CalMac Clyde Operations team can deliver a practical solution for the residents of Arran in the immediate short term.
Yours sincerely,
Sam Bourne BEng (Hons) For Arran Ferry Action Group